Role Overview

In this individual contributor role reporting to the Head of Payments and Banking Commercial Counsel, you'll provide specialized legal support across Block's flagship products. From negotiating with payment networks and financial institutions to ensuring compliance in issuing and acquiring, your work will directly enable Afterpay's buy-now-pay-later revolution, Cash App's peer-to-peer magic, Square's merchant tools, and Tidal's music streaming ecosystem. Block's foundational teams—spanning People, Finance, Counsel, and more—unite to tackle global challenges, and you'll bring diverse perspectives to foster inclusive policies and innovative solutions.

The payments industry is booming, with digital wallets, aggregators, and networks evolving rapidly. You'll stay ahead of trends, using AI to streamline workflows and collaborating cross-functionally to mitigate risks while fueling growth. This isn't just legal work; it's strategic partnership in building a more accessible economy.

Key Responsibilities

As Commercial Counsel, your days will be filled with high-impact tasks:

• Draft and negotiate intricate payments, banking, and commercial agreements with partners like payment networks, issuers, acquirers, aggregators, and digital wallets.
• Deliver clear, principled legal advice focused on risk-balanced business enablement.
• Proactively resolve issues in ongoing commercial relationships to protect Block's interests.
• Partner with product, engineering, finance, and compliance teams to evaluate legal risks and craft mitigation strategies.
• Support innovative ideas by balancing compliance with growth opportunities.
• Monitor and interpret regulatory changes in payments and banking, advising stakeholders on requirements and best practices.
• Leverage AI tools daily to enhance efficiency in contract review, drafting, and research.
• Maintain and evolve commercial payments templates, playbooks, and standardized processes.
• Collaborate across Block's business units, including Afterpay, Cash App, Square, and Tidal.
• Coordinate complex projects involving diverse management levels and global teams.
• Ensure adherence to data security, privacy, and financial services regulations.
• Contribute to inclusive policies that promote economic opportunity for all.
• Stay passionate about Fintech trends and industry disruptions.

These responsibilities demand a proactive, collaborative mindset, where ego takes a backseat to team success.

Qualifications

To excel, you need:

• A J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. state.
• 8+ years of post-bar experience, emphasizing commercial transactions in payments, banking, or financial services.
• In-house counsel experience at a Fintech, bank, or financial services firm.
• Hands-on work with payment networks (e.g., Visa, Mastercard), issuers, acquirers, or facilitators.
• Expert knowledge of compliance in issuing, acquiring, networks, partnerships, data security, and privacy.
• Proven expertise in drafting and negotiating complex, high-value contracts.
• Strong track record in communicating and coordinating multifaceted issues with executives and cross-functional partners.
• A genuine passion for the payments industry and its transformative potential.
• Team-oriented approach, thriving in collaborative, ego-free environments.
• Familiarity with AI applications in legal practice for process optimization.

Block values diverse perspectives and considers qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records, in line with equal opportunity principles.

Salary & Benefits

Compensation at Block is competitive for senior legal talent in the Bay Area. Expect a base salary range of $250,000–$400,000 annually, plus equity, bonuses, and comprehensive perks. Benefits include:

• Market-leading health coverage (medical, dental, vision).
• 401(k) with generous matching.
• Unlimited PTO, parental leave, and wellness stipends.
• Stock grants and ESPP participation.
• Professional growth funding and AI tool access.
• Inclusive culture with global impact.

Total rewards position Block as a top employer for Fintech lawyers.

Why Join Block?

Block isn't just a company; it's a mission-driven powerhouse uniting Square's merchant empire, Cash App's everyday finance, Afterpay's flexible payments, and Tidal's artist-centric streaming. Our Bay Area HQ buzzes with innovation, where legal counsel like you bridges business and compliance to empower millions economically.

Work with world-class teams across time zones, leveraging cutting-edge AI to outpace competitors. Enjoy a culture of inclusion, where every voice matters, and challenges spark possibilities. Block's commitment to equal opportunity ensures a workplace reflecting the diverse economy we're building. Join us to advance your career while transforming finance.

In the competitive Fintech legal space, Block stands out with its scale, impact, and employee-centric perks. Senior Commercial Counsel roles here offer unparalleled exposure to payments evolution—from regulatory shifts to partnership deals shaping the future.

How to Apply

Ready to bring your payments expertise to Block? Submit your resume, cover letter highlighting Fintech experience, and references via our careers portal. Tailor your application to showcase contract negotiation wins and regulatory savvy. Interviews include case studies on payments agreements and behavioral questions on cross-functional collaboration.

We review applications on a rolling basis. Bay Area candidates preferred; relocation support available for top talent. Block is an equal opportunity employer—apply today and empower the future of money!