Elyse Whitehead

Elyse Whitehead is the Head of Enterprise Legal Services at Plaid, where she has been instrumental in leading the Enterprise Solutions legal team since December 2020. Her role involves direct reporting to Plaid's General Counsel and overseeing a team responsible for various legal areas, including global employment, investigations, intellectual property, litigation, and regulatory compliance.1

Professional Background

• Previous Roles at Plaid:
  • Employment & Litigation Counsel (January 2020 - December 2020): In this position, Elyse built out the employment and litigation sectors, advising on domestic and international employment issues and managing litigation strategies.1
• Prior Experience:
  • Shareholder at Keesal, Young & Logan (2019): She provided legal counsel on compliance with employment laws and defended clients in various legal forums.1
  • Associate Attorney at Keesal, Young & Logan (2010 - 2018): Elyse focused on employment law and compliance issues during her tenure.1

Education

Elyse holds a Juris Doctor degree from a prestigious institution and has a background in psychology and American studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with highest honors.12

Contributions and Initiatives

Elyse is also recognized for her commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within the legal profession. She serves as the executive sponsor of Plaid’s Legal DEIB Committee, which aims to enhance diversity in legal recruiting and workplace culture.1

Her leadership style emphasizes practical risk awareness and proactive communication to support informed decision-making across the organization.1