Marissa Black

Chief Legal Officer

Vertafore - Marissa Black
The best legal teams don’t simply protect the business—they enable it. By balancing risk with opportunity and aligning legal strategy with business priorities, in-house Legal helps accelerate decision-making, strengthen customer relationships, and create sustainable value.”

Marissa Black is a seasoned business advisor with a strong background in strategic legal leadership, complex commercial matters, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, risk management, and corporate governance.

As Chief Legal Officer of Vertafore, Marissa leads the company’s legal function and serves as a strategic advisor to the business, helping Vertafore navigate an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment while supporting the company’s growth, innovation, and commitment to its customers. As technology, AI, data, and regulation continue to reshape the insurance industry, Marissa is focused on helping Vertafore innovate and grow responsibly while strengthening the trust that is fundamental to its relationships with customers and partners.

Marissa earned her bachelor's from the Ohio State University and her J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She began her legal career in private practice, most recently at global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, where she advised and represented companies in sophisticated commercial and litigation matters. Her work included representing Vertafore, giving her an early opportunity to understand the company, its business, and the insurance technology industry from the perspective of outside counsel.

Marissa later joined Roper Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROP), where she was promoted to Assistant General Counsel and worked across a diverse portfolio of market-leading technology businesses, advising on complex legal and business matters and partnering closely with senior leadership. That experience strengthened her ability to evaluate legal issues through a commercial lens—balancing risk with business objectives and developing practical solutions that allow organizations to move forward with confidence.

Marissa lives in Sarasota, Florida with her family, including Labradoodles Winnie and Alfredo. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, staying active, swimming at the pool, and taking advantage of Florida’s year-round sunshine. Originally from Northeast Ohio, Marissa remains a steadfast Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland sports fan.

Marissa's 5 Fast Facts

What do you love most about your role at Vertafore?

I love helping shape how we move the business forward. As Chief Legal Officer, my role isn’t simply to identify risk—it’s to understand our strategy, customers, and goals, and help find the right path to achieve those goals. I particularly enjoy partnering with team members across the organization to solve complex problems, enable thoughtful growth, and ultimately help Vertafore deliver for our customers.

 

How did you get into the InsurTech business?

My path into InsurTech came through the intersection of technology, business, and law. I was drawn to an industry where technology can transform how people work and how businesses serve their clients. The complexity and opportunity within insurance have kept me here. InsurTech brings together innovation, regulation, data, and deeply important customer relationships, which makes it an incredibly interesting industry in which to work and lead.

 

What are you most excited about for the future of InsurTech?

I’m most excited about the opportunity to use technology—including AI—to make the insurance ecosystem simpler, smarter, and more connected. There is tremendous potential to reduce administrative complexity, give people better information and insights, and allow our customers to spend more time focused on serving their clients. For Vertafore, the opportunity is not just to adopt new technology, but to help lead that transformation responsibly and in ways that create meaningful, lasting value for our customers and their clients.

 

What’s your idea of the perfect weekend?

My perfect weekend is all about spending time with my family and being active. You’ll usually find us outside, swimming at the pool, going for walks or hikes, or just enjoying time together. I really value the chance to unplug, recharge, and be present with my family. Nothing elaborate—just sunshine, activity, and quality time with the people who matter most.

 

I’m coming to visit you! What are your favorite/must-do things in your city?

Sarasota has such a great mix of beautiful beaches, outdoor activities, and a fun downtown. A perfect day would include spending some time on Siesta Key, getting out on the water or enjoying one of the area’s parks, and then heading downtown for dinner. The Ringling is also a must-see, and catching a sunset over the Gulf is hard to beat. Sarasota has something for everyone, but for me, the best way to enjoy it is to be outside, stay active, and take advantage of everything the water and sunshine have to offer.

Education

  • Ohio State University, BA, French and International Studies
  • Ohio State University, JD

Experience

  • Assistant General Counsel, Roper Technologies (NASDAQ: ROP)
  • Associate, Litigation, Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
  • Associate, Litigation, BakerHostetler LLP
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Dan Aaron Polster of the US District Court for the ND Ohio

Leadership at Vertafore