Ellen R. Patterson

Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel

Wells Fargo & Company

Ellen Patterson is Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Wells Fargo & Company. As General Counsel, Ellen leads the company’s global legal affairs by providing strategic legal counsel to the company’s business lines and functions, overseeing litigation and regulatory enforcement matters, and advising on corporate governance. Ellen serves on the Wells Fargo Operating Committee and is based in New York City. She also serves as the co-executive sponsor of Wells Fargo’s Women’s Connection.

Before joining Wells Fargo as General Counsel in March 2020, Ellen served as Group Head and General Counsel for TD Bank Group, where she served on TD’s global Operating Committee and as chair of TD’s Women in Leadership program.  

Prior to joining TD, Ellen was a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, advising financial institutions and other companies on mergers & acquisitions, capital markets, and corporate governance matters.

Ellen holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a J.D. from Columbia University. She was recognized by American Banker as its "Most Powerful Woman to Watch" in 2021 and was also included on the 2023 list. Ellen is a member of the board of directors of The United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.