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Erica Khalili

Erica Khalili is the Chief Legal and Risk Officer and Co-Founder of Lead Bank. 

Erica oversees Lead’s foundational functions across legal, risk, compliance, financial crimes, information security, and program management. She has helped build and scale the bank’s programs from the ground up, shaping it into the partner of choice for some of the most innovative fintechs and crypto companies in the world.

Previously, she spent over six years as Deputy General Counsel at Block, Inc. (formerly Square, Inc.) and General Counsel for Square Financial Services, Block’s internal bank. Erica led the effort to secure a de novo ILC charter, helping build the bank from its first line of code into a thriving institution. She also oversaw the legal team supporting Square Capital, Block’s small-business lending program. Before Block, Erica was a member of the Banking and Finance practices at Mayer Brown LLP and Banker McKenzie LLP, where she advised clients on structured products, bank regulatory issues and fintech matters. 

Erica holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois and a JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law and is licensed to practice law in Illinois and New York. She was named in the Financial Technology Report’s “Top 50 Women Leaders in FinTech” list in 2024 and Inc’s “Female Founders 500” list in 2025.

Erica Khalili

Co-Founder, Chief Legal & Risk Officer

Erica Khalili is the Chief Legal and Risk Officer and Co-Founder of Lead Bank. 

Erica oversees Lead’s foundational functions across legal, risk, compliance, financial crimes, information security, and program management. She has helped build and scale the bank’s programs from the ground up, shaping it into the partner of choice for some of the most innovative fintechs and crypto companies in the world.

Previously, she spent over six years as Deputy General Counsel at Block, Inc. (formerly Square, Inc.) and General Counsel for Square Financial Services, Block’s internal bank. Erica led the effort to secure a de novo ILC charter, helping build the bank from its first line of code into a thriving institution. She also oversaw the legal team supporting Square Capital, Block’s small-business lending program. Before Block, Erica was a member of the Banking and Finance practices at Mayer Brown LLP and Banker McKenzie LLP, where she advised clients on structured products, bank regulatory issues and fintech matters. 

Erica holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois and a JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law and is licensed to practice law in Illinois and New York. She was named in the Financial Technology Report’s “Top 50 Women Leaders in FinTech” list in 2024 and Inc’s “Female Founders 500” list in 2025.