From The Journal Record
Published: May 4, 2022
Click to see full story – Leadership in Law profile: Candace Williams Lisle
Candace Williams Lisle is a litigation attorney with an emphasis in the representation of financial institutions in mortgage and commercial loan litigation and lender liability.
As a child growing up in Oklahoma City, Candace Williams Lisle read the newspaper cover to cover every day and developed a lifelong interest in politics and government. She quickly realized that people participating in these newsworthy events were lawyers, so she decided at an early age that she would go to law school.
“Though my career path never included governmental work or politics, I was inspired by those political leaders of the 1960s to study law,” she said. “Neither of my parents had college degrees, but they provided invaluable support and encouragement every step of the way.”
After graduating from OU Law School in 1981, Lisle began her practice in general commercial litigation at Crowe & Dunlevy. During her years there, she received invaluable training and mentoring and worked on many exciting and challenging matters, including the Phillips Petroleum Co. takeover litigation and Penn Square Bank-related litigation.
In 1989, as a young partner, she stepped away from the practice of law to begin raising her family. That “maternity leave” eventually stretched to 20 years.
In 2009, she returned to the practice of law and joined Phillips Murrah. Lisle is now a shareholder at Phillips Murrah, specializing in commercial litigation with an emphasis in the areas of insurance defense, labor and employment law, commercial loan litigation, and lender liability.
“Currently, the professional accomplishment of which I’m most proud is chairing Phillips Murrah’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and establishing the Phillips Murrah Diversity Externship Program, which just completed its second year,” she said. “This year, four externs from OU and OCU law schools participated in the program. Meeting, mentoring, and providing opportunities for these diverse law students has been immensely rewarding for our firm. Personally, I’ve been inspired and energized by our externs’ incredible life stories and accomplishments. To be able to have even a small impact on the careers of these young lawyers has been such a meaningful experience.”
Phillips Murrah attorneys attend the 2022 Law Day event where Candace Williams Lisle received an award. From left: Jim Roth, Nikki Edwards, Candy Lisle, Tom Wolfe, Cathy Campbell, Kathy Terry, Phoebe Barber, Dawn Rahme, and Cody Cooper.
Education: University of Oklahoma (J.D. 1981); University of Oklahoma (B.B.A. with Special Distinction, 1978).
Admitted to practice in: Oklahoma; U.S. District Court, Northern and Western districts of Oklahoma, Northern District of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
Professional involvement: Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma County Bar Association, Palomar Legal Network Committee.
Community involvement: Past president, Westminster School Board of Trustees; (previous) Board of Trustees, Heritage Hall School; (previous) Board of Trustees, Infant Crisis Services Inc.; (previous) Board of Trustees, Ballet Oklahoma; (previous) past president, Heritage Hills Associate Board.
Awards/honors: Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent, Best Lawyers: Commercial Litigation (2016-present), Best Lawyers: Financial Services Regulation Law (2020-present), Best Lawyers: Banking and Finance Law (2021).
Hobbies: Spending time with children and grandchildren, entertaining at family gatherings, traveling, visiting great art museums and reading a good novel.