Gender battles of the past have, ironically, helped fuel the careers of some women in historically male-dominated fi elds.


oon after her fi rst child was born, Candice J. Wells began


considering career options. As much as she enjoyed work- ing for a law fi rm, she felt


26


overwhelmed by the demands of clients—many of which were in the petroleum industry—and motherhood. So Wells took an in-house job with one of her client companies. When opportunity called again, she moved to Houston-based LINN


Energy, LLC, and last October became its vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. She is among the growing ranks of


women who lead corporate law depart- ments in so-called hard hat industries. For instance, 22 Fortune® 500 compa- nies boasted women in such positions, according to last year’s MCCA General Counsel Survey. T is fi gure was almost twice the combined total of female general counsel (GC) at Fortune® 500 giants in retail, restaurant and food businesses. Wells and her counterparts at


publicly traded companies fi nd it invigorating to practice law and, quite often, blaze new trails in mostly male environments. Whether they are employed at steel mills, railroads, or manufacturers of hydraulic compo-


Candice J.


Wells Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary


DIVERSITY & THE BAR® JULY/AUGUST 2014 MCCA.COM


Photo courtesy of LINN Energy, LLC


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