After a drop to 85 in 2009, the number increased to 94 this year. That is the highest total since the survey began in 1996.
According to the report, one reason for the increase was the volatile economic climate that changed the Fortune 500 list to include more companies with a female general counsel.
“Traditional powerhouses now struggling in the new economic reality were replaced on the list by more recession-resistant companies in the burgeoning healthcare sector,” the MCCA report said. “This is good news for the women who run the legal offices at companies like Bristol-Myers Squibb (Sandra Leung), Pfizer (Amy Shulman), DaVita (Kim Rivera) and St. Jude Medical (Pamela Krop).”
Among states, California had 14 Fortune 500 companies with female general counsel, New York was next with 10 and was followed by Texas with nine.