Data Centers
- Overview
- Experience
- People
- Insights
Overview
As data center and digital infrastructure development accelerates nationwide, Adams & Reese is strategically positioned in the regions of the country experiencing some of the most significant investment and growth in this space. Our firm's geographic footprint places us in key markets driving the data center boom, where hyperscalers, energy infrastructure platforms, major developers, technology companies, and landowners are making transformative, multi-billion-dollar commitments. We bring comprehensive, hands-on legal experience to every phase of these complex projects, from incentive negotiations, initial site selection and land acquisition through construction, power infrastructure, and ongoing operations.
Data center projects demand seamless coordination across multiple legal disciplines. Our team delivers that integrated capability by combining experience in economic development, governmental relations, utility regulation, real estate, construction, energy, environmental, intellectual property, project finance, and more, to keep projects moving from concept to completion. Whether the engagement involves a hyperscale campus, a regional data infrastructure facility, or site preparation to attract future development, Adams & Reese understands the unique demands of the data center industry and the urgency that drives it.
Defining Strengths
Our attorneys apply deep industry knowledge and a practical, results-driven approach to offer clients a full range of data center legal services, including:
- Services Tailored to Energy Infrastructure Platforms
- Construction
- Technology & Intellectual Property
- Economic Development
- Energy, Utilities & Power Infrastructure
- Environmental
- Government Relations & Advocacy
- Project Finance & Transactional
- Real Estate, Land Acquisition & Disposition
- Zoning, Permitting & Incentives
Experience
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Construction – Assisted in the construction of an approximately $27 billion hyperscale data center for a leading global technology company, one of the largest data center projects in the world, with representation focused primarily on construction-related legal matters supporting landmark infrastructure development.
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Critical Infrastructure Technology & Intellectual Property – Represented a leading provider of critical infrastructure technologies for data centers, cloud computing facilities, AI computing environments, enterprise IT deployments, and other mission-critical facilities on ongoing intellectual property and technology matters spanning more than a decade, including advising on innovations relating to intelligent power distribution units, remote power monitoring and management systems, environmental sensing, rack-level infrastructure management, energy-efficiency improvements, power quality analytics, and technologies that enhance the reliability, visibility, security, and operational efficiency of modern data centers.
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Economic Development – Served as local counsel to a national data center developer in connection with a multi-billion-dollar data center development, including drafting purchase agreements with local economic development authorities, negotiating restrictive and protective covenants for property within industrial parks, attending public meetings, and responding to questions concerning the acquisition and development of property.
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Energy, Utilities & Power Infrastructure – Advised regional electric utilities on federal legislation and executive orders affecting data center development and energy policy, monitoring and analyzing evolving federal regulatory and policy developments to inform strategic positioning on data center power supply and grid infrastructure, and provided counsel on power purchase agreement matters in connection with large-scale data center projects.
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Environmental – Advised on Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, environmental due diligence, and regulatory compliance for data center sites and associated energy infrastructure.
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Government Relations & Advocacy – Advised a major global technology company on state and local government relations in connection with a data center expansion project, provided strategic counsel on legislative monitoring, community outreach, and the pursuit of state and local incentives to support the development and growth of data center operations.
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Project Finance & Transactional – Represented a major global financial institution as local counsel in connection with a large-scale syndicated credit facility supporting the development of a hyperscale data center for a leading technology company, advised the collateral agent on secured lending matters, and coordinated with national counsel to facilitate closing of the financing arrangement for one of the largest data center infrastructure projects in the region.
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Real Estate, Land Acquisition & Disposition – Represented sellers in multiple, concurrent large-acreage land dispositions involving buyers acquiring substantial tracts for data center development, encompassing the full transaction lifecycle including negotiation and drafting of purchase and sale agreements, management of the title review and cure process, coordination of surveys and legal descriptions, oversight of due diligence, preparation of special warranty deeds and closing certificates, and escrow-style closings involving complex title matters such as mineral reservations, oil and gas leases, environmental considerations, and multi-party coordination among sellers, title companies, surveyors, and buyer's counsel.
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Zoning, Permitting & Incentives – Conducted due diligence on zoning and permitting for large-scale data center developments, worked with local municipalities to amend permitted uses within existing zoning classifications including establishing electrical substations and fuel storage as of-right uses, reviewing and analyzing applicable state laws and incentive programs, and negotiating incentives with state economic development authorities.