Accelerating demand for digital infrastructure is transforming the global economy. The explosive growth of artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI and cloud services is driving unprecedented demand for new data centers and advanced computing power. We have an experienced, multidisciplinary team across the country to provide innovative and workable solutions for our clients’ real estate, zoning/permitting, construction, contracting and energy needs. Our experience in these areas helps our clients navigate this complex and rapidly evolving landscape with results and speed.

End-to-end development counsel

We work with data center developers and operators throughout the development process — from site selection, acquisition, design, development and zoning, through energy procurement, financing and regulatory approvals for data centers and collocated facilities. Our attorneys know the local scene, providing practical environmental insights, zoning and land use guidance; negotiating electric power supply and related infrastructure agreements; and assisting with regulatory compliance and approvals. We represent data center developers dealing with utility providers and state regulators, and understand the operational concerns, risk profiles and complex infrastructure requirements that drive successful projects.

Representative experience

• Advise on regulatory strategy and negotiate critical agreements with electric power and natural gas companies in traditionally regulated markets to secure the energy and transmission capacity for proposed facilities.
• Represent data center developers in local land use proceedings and community engagement efforts.
• Provide ongoing regulatory counsel to national hyperscaler regarding the energy landscape and proceedings affecting data center development, including representation before the North Carolina Utilities Commission in regulatory proceedings related to the addition of large-load customers to the utility system.
• Counsel renewable energy companies on regulatory and transactional issues arising in their development of data center collocated assets, including ensuring clean energy procurement to meet data center load requirements and company clean energy goals.
• Prosecuted subcontractor mechanics liens on behalf of electrical contractors engaged in data center construction, protecting payment rights and project continuity.
• Advise storage developers on data center-sited storage facilities within PJM’s service territory, aligning project design with market participation rules and interconnection pathways.

Energy, siting and infrastructure

Our team understands the inter-relation of power procurement, transmission and distribution planning, and interconnection strategy with land use and environmental permitting and construction schedules to streamline critical-path milestones. We help clients secure grid capacity, negotiate wholesale and retail energy supply, and align project phasing with interconnection studies, curtailment risk and cost allocation. We coordinate closely with engineering and development teams to structure EPC and major equipment procurements, address reliability and redundancy needs, and manage construction risk through tailored contracting strategies.

Real estate, zoning and environmental

We handle site control, title and survey, and entitlements for greenfield and brownfield development, including comprehensive zoning and land use strategy, environmental review and permitting under federal, state and local regimes. We advise on water, wastewater, air and noise considerations; manage wetlands and protected species issues; and structure mitigation and community engagement approaches that keep schedules on track.

Financing and commercial arrangements

We advise on project and portfolio-level financing solutions for data and colocation centers, including offtake structures that integrate renewable energy and virtual power purchase agreements. We negotiate lease, colocation and service-level agreements, EPC and O&M contracts, and key vendor and infrastructure arrangements to ensure performance and reliability, and address risk allocation.

Regulatory strategy and litigation

We represent clients before public utility commissions, energy market operators and local authorities on issues related to tariffs, rate design, interconnection, transmission upgrades, collocated new generation and power purchases, customer programs, resource adequacy and permitting. Where necessary, we prosecute and defend disputes arising from construction, interconnection delays and payment issues, with an emphasis on schedule certainty, cost recovery and project continuity.

Privacy and data security

Our team advises data center operators, hyperscalers and enterprise customers on cybersecurity, data protection, privacy regulation, cross-border data transfer rules, and telecommunications regulatory compliance and licensing. We provide proactive guidance designed to avoid data security breaches and liability, implement incident preparedness and response plans, and align governance frameworks with evolving global privacy and security standards.