Enrique Abarca, JD, MBA
About Enrique Abarca, JD, MBA
Enrique Abarca, JD, MBA, serves as the Associate General Counsel and Global Head of Innovation and Intellectual Property at Nabors Industries. He has extensive experience in intellectual property law and has held various legal positions in notable companies while also lecturing at Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business.
Work at Nabors Industries
Enrique Abarca serves as the Associate General Counsel and Global Head of Innovation and Intellectual Property at Nabors Industries. He has held this position since 2017, contributing to the company's legal strategies and intellectual property management. Abarca directly reports to the CEO, senior executives, and the Board of Directors, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives. His role involves overseeing innovation initiatives and protecting the company's intellectual assets.
Education and Expertise
Enrique Abarca holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from BYU Law School and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Rice Business - Jones Graduate School of Business, where he studied Competition, Innovation, Strategy, and Emerging Markets. He also completed a certificate in Negotiations at Harvard University. His educational background supports his expertise in legal and business strategies, particularly in the field of intellectual property.
Background
Abarca's career spans various roles in the legal and engineering fields. He began as an Engineer at GE from 1995 to 1997 before transitioning to a Patent Attorney role from 1999 to 2002. He then served as Senior Corporate Counsel for Intellectual Property at Eaton Corporation from 2008 to 2012 and as Division Corporate Counsel for Intellectual Property at CR Bard for one year. Prior to his current role at Nabors Industries, he was Assistant General Counsel for Intellectual Property at Nabors from 2012 to 2017.
Achievements
Enrique Abarca is recognized as a named inventor on six issued patents. He has been honored as a Lawyer of Distinction and recognized by IAM magazine as one of the 'World’s Leading Intellectual Property Strategists' for four consecutive years. Additionally, he is featured as a top leader in Hispanic Executive Magazine, highlighting his contributions and influence in the legal and business communities.
Lecturer at Rice University
Since 2012, Enrique Abarca has been a Lecturer in Management at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business. In this role, he lectures on business and legal strategies, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience with graduate students. His teaching focuses on the intersection of law and business, preparing students for careers in management and legal fields.