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They've Got the Power

This year women head the legal departments of 71 Fortune 500 companies, or 14 percent. That's a net gain of one female GC over 2003. We ranked these top legal officers according to the size of the law departments they oversee.
Name Current Title Company Industry Number of In-House Lawyers 2004 Fortune Rank 2003 Revenue (millions) Number of Employees Year Appointed GC at Current Company Year Joined Company/
Position at Time of Hire
Patricia Hatler EVP, GC, and Sec'y Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Insurance 450 118 $16,803 33,249 1999 1999/SVP and GC
Ann Baskins SVP, GC, and Sec'y Hewlett-Packard Company Computers and Office Equipment 300 11 $73,061 142,000 1999 1982/Att'y
Joan Guggenheimer EVP, CLO, and Sec'y Bank One Corporation* Commercial Banks 250 88 $21,454 71,196 2003 2003/GC
Rosemary Berkery EVP and GC Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Securities 231 58 $27,745 48,100 2001 1983/Sr. Att'y -- Law and Compliance
Esta Stecher EVP, GC, and Cohead of Legal The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Securities 171 74 $23,623 19,476 2000 1994/Tax Director
Michelle Gluck EVP, GC, and Sec'y LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. Insurance 123 483 $3,406 10,713 2004 2003/EVP
Ann Kappler SVP and GC Fannie Mae Diversified Financials 114 20 $53,767 5,032 2000 1999/SVP and Deputy GC
Gloria Santona EVP, GC, and Sec'y McDonald's Corporation Food Services 110 114 $17,141 418,000 2001 1977/Corp. Att'y
Judith Soltz EVP and GC CIGNA Corporation Health Care 100 101 $18,808 32,700 2001 1978/Tax Counsel
Carrie Dwyer EVP -- Corporate Oversight, GC, and Sec'y The Charles Schwab Corporation Securities 100 402 $4,328 16,300 1997 1996/EVP -- Corporate Oversight
Nancy Straus Sundheim SVP, GC, and Sec'y Unisys Corporation Computer and Data Services 91 312 $5,911 37,300 2001 1987/Ass't GC and Chief Acquisitions Counsel
Christina Clayton VP and GC Xerox Corporation Computers and Office Equipment 91 130 $15,701 61,100 2000 1977/Att'y
Louise Parent EVP and GC American Express Company Diversified Financials 90 69 $25,866 78,200 1993 1977/Counsel
Marla Persky Acting GC Baxter International Inc. Medical Products and Equipment 81 220 $9,087 51,300 2004 1986/Corp. Counsel (Baxter Healthcare Corporation)
Martha Wyrsch VP, GC, and Sec'y Duke Energy Corporation Energy 81 75 $23,483 23,800 2004 1999/SVP, GC, and Sec'y (Duke Energy Field Services)
Andrea Zopp SVP and GC Sears, Roebuck and Co. General Merchandisers 75 32 $41,124 249,000 2003 2003/SVP and GC
Fay Chapman Sr. EVP and GC Washington Mutual, Inc. Savings Institutions 75 103 $18,629 60,021 1997 1997/EVP and GC
Susan Bow Managing Director, GC, and Sec'y Countrywide Financial Corporation Diversified Financials 70 146 $13,660 34,298 2003 1993/VP and Counsel (Countrywide Funding Corporation)
Karen Shaff EVP and GC Principal Financial Group, Inc. Insurance 70 211 $9,404 14,976 1999 1982/Att'y
Helen Pudlin SVP and GC The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Commercial Banks 66 309 $5,969 23,500 1993 1989/GC (Provident National Bank)
Maura Abeln Smith SVP, GC, and Sec'y International Paper Company Forest and Paper Products 60 71 $25,200 82,800 2003 2003/SVP and GC
Sheila Kearney Davidson SVP and GC New York Life Insurance Company Insurance 50 70 $25,700 12,180 2000 1991/Assoc. Counsel
Michele Mayes SVP and GC Pitney Bowes Inc. Computers and Office Equipment 46 383 $4,577 32,474 2003 2003/SVP and GC
L. Michelle Wilson SVP, GC, and Sec'y Amazon.com, Inc. Specialty Retailers 44 342 $5,264 7,800 1999 1999/Assoc. GC
Charlene Ripley VP and GC Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Mining and Oil Production 41 345 $5,122 3,500 2003 1997/Sr. Counsel (Norcen Energy Resources Limited)
Nancy Heinen SVP, GC, and Sec'y Apple Computer, Inc. Computers and Office Equipment 41 301 $6,207 12,239 1997 1997/GC
Siri Marshall SVP -- Corporate Affairs, GC, and Sec'y General Mills, Inc. Consumer Food Products 39 186 $10,506 27,300 1994 1994/SVP, GC, and Sec'y
Joanne Bober SVP and GC The Chubb Corporation Insurance 37 174 $11,394 12,300 1999 1999/SVP and GC
Carol Graebner EVP and GC Dynegy Inc. Energy 35 316 $5,813 4,103 2003 2003/EVP and GC
Pamela Craven SVP, GC, and Sec'y Avaya Inc. Network and Communications Equipment 31 401 $4,338 16,900 2000 2000/VP, GC, and Sec'y
Lisa Bodensteiner EVP, GC, and Ass't Sec'y Calpine Corporation Energy 31 226 $8,997 3,418 1999 1996/Assoc. Counsel
Ellen Fitzsimmons SVP -- Law and Public Affairs CSX Corporation Railroads 30 259 $7,793 37,516 1997 1991/Sr. Counsel
Kathleen Chagnon SVP, GC, and Sec'y Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Energy 30 203 $9,703 8,800 2002 2002/VP, GC, and Sec'y
Laura Stein SVP and GC H.J. Heinz Company Consumer Food Products 30 213 $9,328 38,900 2000 2000/SVP and GC
Paula Boggs EVP, GC, and Sec'y Starbucks Corporation Food Services 30 425 $4,076 74,000 2002 2002/EVP, GC, and Sec'y
Kimberly Bowers VP -- Legal Services Valero Energy Corporation Petroleum Refining 30 34 $37,969 19,621 2003 1997/Corp. Counsel
Theresa Lee SVP, CLO, and Sec'y Eastman Chemical Company Chemicals 27 317 $5,800 15,000 2000 1987/Att'y
Lauri Shanahan SVP, GC, and Sec'y Gap, Inc. Specialty Retailers 27 124 $15,854 169,000 1998 1992/Sr. Att'y
Sara Moss SVP, GC, and Sec'y The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Household and Personal Products 26 346 $5,118 21,500 2003 2003/SVP, GC, and Sec'y
Pamela McGuire SVP, GC, and Sec'y The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. Beverages 25 190 $10,265 66,000 1998 1977/Att'y
Madeleine Kleiner EVP and GC Hilton Hotels Corporation Hotels, Casinos, Resorts 24 438 $3,853 68,849 2001 2001/EVP and GC
Suzanne Bettman SVP, GC, and Ass't Sec'y R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company Publishing and Printing 21 362 $4,787 30,000 2004 2004/SVP, GC, and Ass't Sec'y
Ellen Oran Kaden SVP -- Law and Gov't Affairs Campbell Soup Company Consumer Food Products 20 280 $6,678 25,000 1998 1998/SVP, Law and Gov't Affairs
Jennifer Vogel SVP, GC, and Sec'y Continental Airlines, Inc. Airlines 19 231 $8,870 37,680 2001 1995/VP -- Legal
Marya Rose VP, GC, and Sec'y Cummins Inc. Industrial and Farm Equipment 18 296 $6,296 24,200 2001 1997/Corp. Counsel
Leila Vespoli SVP and GC FirstEnergy Corp. Gas and Electric Utilities 18 158 $12,318 15,905 2000 1997/Assoc. GC
Marianne Keler EVP and GC SLM Corporation Diversified Financials 18 417 $4,160 6,766 1997 1985/Staff Att'y
Kerry Galvin SVP, GC, and Sec'y Lyondell Chemical Company Chemicals 17 441 $3,801 3,350 2000 1990/Corp. Finance Att'y
Vicki O'Meara EVP and GC Ryder System, Inc. Trucking and Truck Leasing 17 360 $4,802 26,700 1997 1997/EVP and GC
Linda Tiano SVP and GC WellChoice, Inc. Health Care 17 335 $5,383 5,400 2002 2002/SVP and GC
H. Katherine White VP, GC, and Sec'y Sealed Air Corporation Packaging and Containers 16 471 $3,532 17,600 1998 1982/Assoc. Counsel
Patricia Oliver EVP, GC, and Sec'y BB&T Corporation Commercial Banks 15 298 $6,244 26,300 2004 2004/GC
Deborah Ackerman VP, GC, and Ass't Sec'y Southwest Airlines Co. Airlines 14 310 $5,937 32,847 2001 1988/Assoc. GC
Gail Lione VP, GC, and Sec'y Harley-Davidson, Inc. Transportation Equipment 12 355 $4,904 9,460 1997 1997/VP, GC, and Sec'y
Stacy Fox SVP -- Corporate Transactions and Legal Affairs, GC, and Sec'y Visteon Corporation Motor Vehicles and Parts 11 109 $17,660 72,000 2000 2000/SVP, GC, and Sec'y
M. Suzanne Riedman SVP and GC Kindred Healthcare, Inc. Health Care 10 479 $3,456 44,600 1999 1995/Counsel
Paula Shives SVP, GC, and Sec'y Darden Restaurants, Inc. Food Services 9 377 $4,655 140,700 1999 1999/SVP, GC, and Sec'y
Michelle Goolsby EVP, CAO, GC, and Sec'y Dean Foods Company Food Production 9 218 $9,185 27,500 1998 1998/EVP, GC, and Sec'y
Susan Lanigan SVP, GC, and Sec'y Dollar General Corporation General Merchandisers 8 281 $6,665 53,500 2002 2002/VP, GC, and Sec'y
Elizabeth Lanier EVP and GC US Airways Group, Inc. Airlines 8 276 $6,846 31,700 2003 2003/EVP and GC
Elizabeth Abdoo EVP, GC, and Sec'y Host Marriott Corporation Real Estate 6 455 $3,712 182 2001 2001/SVP and GC
Lynne Burgess SVP and GC Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Automotive Retailing Services 5 357 $4,835 7,965 2002 2002/VP and GC
Christine Leahy VP, GC, and Sec'y CDW Corporation* Electronics and Office Equipment 5 376 $4,665 3,700 2002 2002/VP, GC, and Sec'y
Roberta Schuhalter Karp SVP -- Corporate Affairs and GC Liz Claiborne, Inc. Apparel 5 407 $4,241 13,000 1994 1986/Legal Counsel
Jane Davis VP, GC, and Sec'y York International Corporation Industrial and Farm Equipment 5 424 $4,076 22,300 1995 1995/VP, GC, and Sec'y
Kellye Walker SVP, GC, and Sec'y BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. Specialty Retailers 4 277 $6,724 18,500 2003 2003/SVP, GC, and Sec'y
Kathleen McDermott SVP and GC Nash Finch Company Food and Grocery 4 433 $3,972 8,189 2002 2002/SVP and GC
Grace den Hartog SVP, GC, and Sec'y Owens & Minor, Inc. Health Care 4 406 $4,244 3,245 2003 2003/SVP and GC
Deidra Gold SVP, GC, and Sec'y United Stationers Inc. Electronics and Office Equipment 4 439 $3,848 6,000 2001 2001/SVP, GC, and Sec'y
Candace Cummings VP -- Administration, GC, and Sec'y VF Corporation Apparel 4 343 $5,208 52,300 1995 1995/GC
Linda Feuss VP, GC, and Sec'y C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. Transportation and Logistics 3 467 $3,614 4,112 2003 2003/VP, GC, and Sec'y
*Bank One Corporation is expected to merge with J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in 2004.
*Changed name from CDW Computer Centers in June 2003.
Corporate Counsel research by Sara Yoon.
 
Legend:
Assoc. -- Associate
Ass't -- Assistant
Att'y -- Attorney
CAO -- Chief Administrative Officer
CLO -- Chief Legal Officer
Corp. -- Corporate
EVP -- Executive Vice President
Gov't -- Government
SVP -- Senior Vice President
Sec'y -- Secretary
Sr. -- Senior
VP -- Vice President
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the chart, in no way influence the rankings in any of ALM's surveys.
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