Job Description

Block is looking for an experienced Intellectual Property (IP) Counsel with an interest in strategic engagements and transactions. Block’s IP team sits alongside other Legal teams within its Counsel organization and protects Block’s IP rights and fosters innovation by strategically building and managing its IP portfolio and counseling our employees on open source issues. You will lead the strategic engagements and transactions function, which seeks to proactively mitigate IP risk and counsel clients and partners on complex IP engagements and transactions. Additionally, you will manage the day-to-day operations of the Crypto Open Patent Alliance, including fundraising, membership outreach, and legal matters. You will report to the Global Head of Intellectual Property.

You will:

• Provide advice and negotiate IP terms in technology transactions and patent licensing
• Advise on IP issues in M&A and other transactions
• Participate in standards setting organizations
• Collaborate, interface with, and counsel engineers, tech leads, and partners in our Counsel organization on IP issues
• Identify and advocate for strategic patent transactions or initiatives that reduce Block’s patent risk 
• Network with peers at other companies to share best practices

Qualifications

You have:

• JD degree and membership in at least one state bar
• Interest in and knowledge of financial and blockchain technologies
• Minimum of eight years of relevant experience
• In-house experience, especially technology transactions and M&A experience as an IP specialist 
• Experience in one or more of the following: M&A commercial/IP due diligence, technology transactions, IP licensing, open source, handling of third party IP-related demands and dispute resolution
• Familiarity with computer science, electrical engineering or information retrieval, either through undergraduate or industry experience
• Experience with standards setting organizations 
• Experience with IP litigation and licensing is desirable
• Presence in the IP community and related professional organizations is desirable