|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Marlén Cortez Morris was just eight years old when her family emigrated from Mexico to the US, pursuing the American dream.
“When I first came here, I felt a lot of the differences coming from a rural, tiny town in Guanajuato, Mexico, where at the time we did not even have sidewalks,” recalls Cortez Morris, associate general counsel at Enova International Inc. “Having to learn this whole new culture and language that was foreign to me was tough. Being at a bilingual school helped, as I did not have to abandon my culture and everything I knew.”
Throughout her early school years, Cortez Morris was her family’s translator. Her parents did not speak English, and her oldest brother’s disability required navigating complex systems to ensure he had the appropriate medical care, schooling, and benefits. Cortez Morris learned how to ask difficult questions, challenge rejections, and look for solutions. This experience, coupled with her family’s struggles, inspired her to pursue a career in law to honor their sacrifices and advocate for others facing similar challenges.
“I knew that when I grew up, I wanted to be a lawyer,” Cortez Morris says. “I knew this was a profession where you could use the law to try to make a difference and advocate for change.”
A high school teacher recognized Cortez Morris’s potential by putting her on a mock trial team and helping her secure an internship with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office—a stint she repeated over several summers, which gave her a regular front seat in the courtroom. She then went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa and her law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Navigating the legal field as a first-generation Latina came with its own set of challenges. Cortez Morris’s experience underscored the urgent need for substantial systemic changes in the legal profession to promote equity and remove barriers to entry.
“In law school, the environment was very enriching and diverse, but once I started working at a big law firm, it was a completely foreign experience. It was hierarchical, and I had to learn to navigate a new environment where I was one of very few people of color and [one of the few] Latina attorneys,” says Cortez Morris, who worked at Winston & Strawn after graduation.
Undeterred, Cortez Morris put her head down and worked tirelessly, but she soon realized that hard work alone was not enough. Without a trusted mentor or sponsor, she lacked guidance and advocacy in rooms where other people were deciding on her future.
“I was often underestimated as a young Latina lawyer. I felt like I had to work doubly hard and that my work product had to be impeccable all of the time. That takes a toll on you,” she shares. “Around year six or seven as a lawyer, I decided I had to build my own board of directors and allies. People who would champion me inside my organization and outside of it.”
Today, that personal board of directors and allies comprises mostly other Latina lawyers who have believed in her even when she doubted herself.
“This is one of the main reasons I wanted to transition to an in-house legal counsel position: to truly be a partner for the company.”
Marlén Cortez Morris
After working at Winston & Strawn representing clients in a variety of complex commercial litigation and labor and employment matters, Cortez Morris switched to a boutique law firm. The move granted her tremendous opportunities for growth as a litigator, exposing her to a new legal area—franchising—while using her existing experience. She also became actively involved in industry boards and speaking opportunities to build her brand as a thought leader and skilled litigator.
Through strategic networking, sheer determination, and producing favorable results for her clients, Cortez Morris rose through the ranks and became a law firm partner at several prominent law firms—a remarkable achievement, as Latinas make up less than 1 percent of law firm partners nationwide.
Her extensive and diverse legal expertise spans complex commercial litigation, labor and employment, franchise, and consumer financial services. She has represented clients in various industries, ranging from emerging brands to Fortune 50 companies, in all facets of litigation, including trials and appeals. She has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her career.
Now in her 18th year of practice, Cortez Morris has found an exciting opportunity at leading fintech company Enova, where she manages the company’s enterprise-wide litigation portfolio and mitigates legal risks across various brands.
“I am constantly flexing my legal acumen by assessing, formulating, and implementing litigation and dispute resolution strategies. In addition, I serve as a strategic partner for business teams to mitigate litigation and regulatory risks, including by proactively identifying areas of risk and high-value, low-disruption solutions and initiatives,” Cortez Morris says. “In fact, this is one of the main reasons I wanted to transition to an in-house legal counsel position: to truly be a partner for the company.”
Cortez Morris is dedicated to sustaining the pipeline of future Latino legal leaders. She serves as a board trustee for the Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois (HLSF) and has been actively involved with initiatives aimed at mentoring, recruiting, and promoting diverse legal talent.
As a past scholarship recipient, Cortez Morris knows the impact HLSF makes in easing the financial burden of a legal education and providing a network of Latino legal professionals to support first-generation law students like her.
“We are so severely underrepresented in the legal arena,” Cortez Morris says. “Our stories need to be seen and told. We need to see that an immigrant can have a high bar, dream big, and actually achieve it. There are so many resources nowadays and different programs to help aspiring law students and lawyers achieve their dream.
“I feel tremendous privilege and a sense of responsibility to open doors for others like me, to leave this world a little better for our future generations,” Cortez Morris affirms. “I would like to think I am doing that through my legal work and board and other community service.”
Locke Lord congratulates Marlén Cortez Morris on her well-deserved recognition. We celebrate her leadership and friendship, her collaboration with the in-house team at Enova and with outside counsel, and her commitment to diversity.
