EXHIBIT 5.0


                                 BLACKROCK, INC.
                                345 PARK AVENUE
                              NEW YORK, NY  10154


                                           March 14, 2000



 BlackRock, Inc.
 345 Park Avenue
 New York, NY 10154

 Ladies and Gentlemen:

           I am general counsel of BlackRock, Inc., a Delaware corporation
 (the "Company"). In connection with the issuance and grant or sale from
 time to time by the Company of up to 5,305,553 shares of class A common
 stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock")
 pursuant to the (1) BlackRock, Inc. 1999 Stock Award and Incentive Plan
 (the "Incentive Plan"); (2) BlackRock, Inc. Amended and Restated Long-Term
 Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Deferred Compensation Plan"); and (3)
 BlackRock International, Ltd. Amended and Restated Long-Term Deferred
 Compensation Plan (the "International Deferred Compensation Plan" and
 collectively, the "Plans"), I have examined and am familiar with originals
 or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of each of
 (i) the Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to an aggregate of
 5,305,553 shares of Common Stock (the "Registration Statement"), (ii) the
 Plans, as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, (iii) the
 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as
 amended to date, (iv) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as
 amended to date, (v) Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Bylaws,
 (vi) resolutions of the Board relating to the proposed issuance and
 registration of an aggregate of 5,305,553 shares of Common Stock, and (vii)
 such other documents as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis
 for the opinion set forth herein.

           This opinion is delivered in accordance with the requirements of
 Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as
 amended (the "Securities Act").

           I am admitted to the bar in the State of New York, and I do not
 express any opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction other than the
 General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the laws of the United
 States of America to the extent referred to specifically herein.

           Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

 (1)  The 5,305,553 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to
      the Plans as of the date hereof (prior to any adjustment for
      subsequent events pursuant to the Plans) have been duly authorized
      and, when so issued in accordance with the terms of the Plans, will be
      validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and

 (2)  The obligations of the Company under the Plans are binding obligations
      of the Company.

           I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the
 Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as Exhibit 5.0 to the
 Registration Statement.  I also consent to be named in the Registration
 Statement under the heading "Interests of Named Experts and Counsel".  In
 giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I am included in the
 category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
 Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.


                               Very truly yours,

                               /s/ Robert P. Connolly
                               -----------------------------
                               Robert P. Connolly
                               General Counsel