Vice President – Digital Enterprise Legal (Data Architecture)
About the role
Digital Enterprise Data Architecture Legal, a sub-group within BlackRock’s Digital Enterprise Legal, is seeking an experienced, business-minded commercial transactions attorney to join its senior legal team. This is a highly visible Vice President–level role with significant responsibility for shaping and supporting BlackRock’s data architecture and index strategy through complex data, index, technology, and strategic partnership arrangements.
Candidate Profile
We are particularly interested in candidates who are intellectually curious, resilient, and energized by complex challenges. This role operates in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with demanding and often evolving timelines, and requires comfort working under pressure while maintaining sound judgment, attention to detail, and a collaborative mindset. Successful candidates will be those who thrive in ambiguity, proactively seek solutions, and enjoy partnering closely with stakeholders across disciplines.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Analysis and Advisory - Provide strategic, commercially grounded legal advice on complex data, index, technology, and strategic partnership matters. Advise senior stakeholders on legal risk, regulatory considerations, and the risk–reward balance of transactions, in line with BlackRock’s standards. Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and commercial risks, offering risk-adjusted solutions in fast-paced and evolving environments.
Contract Negotiation and Management - Lead and own negotiations for complex licensing agreements involving inbound data and index licensing. Structure, draft, and review a broad range of commercial agreements, ensuring alignment with BlackRock’s business objectives and standard positions.
Business and Product Development Support - Act as a strategic legal partner to business, product, and technology teams on new initiatives and product development. Provide legal input on regulatory, intellectual property, data usage, and risk considerations. Support strategic decision-making by advising on legal implications of new opportunities, partnerships, and business models.
Vendor and Partnership Relationships - Advise on the structuring and governance of strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and collaborations with data and index providers, index administrators, and other strategic partners. Participate in local, regional, and global initiatives to drive industry-leading data and technology solutions across BlackRock’s platforms and ways of working.
Requirements
7+ years of relevant experience as a commercial transactions attorney, gained in a top-tier law firm (secondment experience a plus) and/or an in-house legal department, preferably within an index provider, exchange, or the financial services or financial technology industry, with a strong focus on data and index licensing and technology transactions.
J.D. (U.S.), LL.B. (U.K.), or equivalent law degree, and/or holder of a valid Cédula Profesional.
Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
Demonstrated ability to rapidly understand business objectives, assess legal, commercial, reputational, operational, and other relevant risks, and deliver pragmatic, business-oriented solutions.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely explain complex legal issues to non-legal stakeholders.
Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively within a sophisticated global legal team, supported by strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple, competing priorities.