Data Centers

We provide knowledge on critical subject areas in every aspect of data center development, leasing, financing and operation, but also in the understanding of the regulatory issues that affect them.

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Data centers are the foundation of our digital infrastructure, and their development, acquisition, and operation demand legal advisors who understand their complexity. From hyperscale builds to colocation facilities, businesses face evolving regulatory, commercial, and technical challenges that require coordinated, cross-border legal support.

Our global data center team delivers integrated, sector-specific advice across the full lifecycle of a project. We combine deep industry insight with legal knowledge across real estate, planning, energy, infrastructure, data privacy, tax, and sustainability—helping clients manage risk, accelerate delivery, and unlock long-term value.

With lawyers based across the U.S., Europe (including FLAP markets), and Asia, we provide seamless legal support wherever your data center operations or investments are located. Our international footprint allows us to coordinate advice across jurisdictions, ensuring consistency and commercial alignment on multi-market projects.

We advise on every stage of the data center lifecycle—from site acquisition and development to leasing, financing, and operations. Our work includes:

Structuring and negotiating service level agreements, and key performance indicators
Managing planning, zoning, and permitting issues
Advising on energy procurement, redundancy, and environmental impact
Supporting direct and indirect acquisitions, construction, and pre-letting

Whether you’re entering new markets, scaling capacity, or optimising existing assets, our multidisciplinary approach ensures you have the right legal support at every stage.

Power Purchase and Co-Location Agreements

Cooling Systems & PFAS Compliance

Network Connectivity & Infrastructure Access

Site Selection, Zoning and Permitting Strategy

We advise on structuring and negotiating power purchase agreements (PPAs) tailored to data centre operations, including co-location (shared facility use) and behind-the-meter arrangements (on-site energy generation and consumption). Our expertise also extends to navigating federal land issues in the U.S. and addressing water supply considerations, ensuring comprehensive support for infrastructure and regulatory challenges. Our team brings a multi-angle view—legal, regulatory, and commercial—to help clients secure reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy. We also support clients exploring innovative energy partnerships, such as with nuclear providers or renewable aggregators. We also advise on navigating regulatory bodies, including, for example in the U.S., the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state utility commissions.. Whether you're scaling capacity or entering a new market, we help you power your data center strategy.

Cooling is a critical operational and environmental concern for data centers. We advise on procurement and compliance for advanced cooling systems, including two-phase and liquid cooling technologies. Our Environmental team helps clients navigate PFAS (“forever chemicals”) restrictions, emissions regulations, and site-specific risks—especially when developing on former industrial land.

We advise on the legal and regulatory aspects of securing robust, scalable network connectivity for data centers. This includes negotiating dark fiber and cross-connect agreements, managing rights-of-way, and navigating telecom regulations. Our team helps clients ensure seamless access to carriers, cloud providers, and internet exchanges - critical for latency-sensitive operations and global reach.

Selecting the right site for a data center involves navigating a complex web of legal, regulatory, and community considerations. We help clients assess land use risks, zoning restrictions, and infrastructure access, and advise on securing permits and local approvals. Our team also supports stakeholder engagement strategies to address community opposition - often referred to as NIMBYism (“Not In My Back Yard”) - helping ensure smoother project delivery and local buy-in. Whether you're building from the ground up or expanding an existing facility, we help future-proof your site with a clear, compliant, and commercially viable legal foundation.

Hear from our clients and industry leaders

Hogan Lovells is a distinguished practice offering integrated cross-border projects expertise, including in relation to greenfield and brownfield development and high-value financings”

Chambers UK: Projects: Mainly Domestic

Hogan Lovells are an excellent law firm with top-notch professionals who have expertise in their field. The team is very responsive and strikes a good balance between legal and practical advice”

Chambers USA: REITs – USA – Nationwide

The team are responsive and accurate in their ability to provide quality legal analysis”

Chambers Global: Projects and Energy: Europe-wide

Key contacts

Michael Bonsignore

Partner

Matt Bubb

George (Chip) Cannon

Partner

George (Chip) Cannon

Partner

Washington, D.C.

Dr. Tobias Faber

Partner

Dr. Tobias Faber

Partner

Frankfurt, London

Valerie Kenyon

Partner

Valerie Kenyon

Partner

London

Daniel (Dan) Norris

Partner

Daniel (Dan) Norris

Partner

London

Meet the Data Centers team

Representative experience

Advising Barclays Bank Ireland Plc. and Deutsche Bank AG as active joint lead managers on a securitization backed by data center leases in Germany for Vantage Data Centers

Advising Du Pont Fabros Technology on its US$7.7bn sale to Digital Realty, creating the largest wholesale data center REIT in the United States

Advising Ascendas REIT, on its €555mn acquisition of a portfolio of 11 data centers from Digital Realty Trust

Advising PCCW on the sale of its multiple-site data center business across Asia to DigitalBridge

Advising Mainova WebHouse GmbH on a €475mn financing for data center projects in Frankfurt

Advising Digital Transformation Capital Partners on a large-volume investment in German colocation data center operator Maincubes

Advising Mapletree Investments on a US$1.4bn acquisition of a data center portfolio in North America from Digital Realty Trust

Advising QTS Realty Trust on a US$10bn acquisition by Blackstone

Other ways we can help you

Commercial

Our team advises on commercial and IP issues in data center development and acquisition, including service agreements, contractor accountability, liability terms, and monetization of value-added services, leveraging deep market insight to support strategic decision-making.

Commercial

Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity

We advise on data protection, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure for data centers—helping clients meet regulatory obligations, design secure systems, and align with customer needs across software architecture, physical safeguards, and operational resilience.

Privacy and Cybersecurity

Environment and Natural Resources

Our Environmental team knows and understands data centers and can advise on a range of issues. Regulators are paying increasing attention to environmental impacts of data centers, and our team can provide clients with advice on federal and state requirements.

Environment and Natural Resources

Infrastructure, Energy, Resources, and Projects

We advise on the physical and delivery fundamentals of data centres, including power strategy, grid connections, energy procurement, construction, procurement models and delivery risk across complex, capital intensive developments.

Infrastructure Energy Resources and Projects

Mergers and Acquisitions

We offer clients an unparalleled breadth of experience on data center transactions, including through our representation of public and private owners/operators, REITs, equity investors, developers, and financiers, with their data center transaction needs.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Real Estate

We lead on real estate matters for data center projects worldwide, advising on acquisition, development, financing, and leasing. Our experience spans every stage of the lifecycle, helping clients deliver complex, high-value infrastructure in a fast-moving market.

Real Estate

Tax

Setting up a data center involves complex tax considerations for providers and clients. Our experienced tax team ensures efficient structuring, compliance, and integration of tax terms into agreements, optimizing outcomes and minimizing risks across jurisdictions.

Tax

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Data Centers

We provide knowledge on critical subject areas in every aspect of data center development, leasing, financing and operation, but also in the understanding of the regulatory issues that affect them.

Explore our capabilities

Power Purchase and Co-Location Agreements

Cooling Systems & PFAS Compliance

Network Connectivity & Infrastructure Access

Site Selection, Zoning and Permitting Strategy

Hear from our clients and industry leaders

Hogan Lovells is a distinguished practice offering integrated cross-border projects expertise, including in relation to greenfield and brownfield development and high-value financings”

Hogan Lovells are an excellent law firm with top-notch professionals who have expertise in their field. The team is very responsive and strikes a good balance between legal and practical advice”

The team are responsive and accurate in their ability to provide quality legal analysis”

Key contacts

Global data center brochure

Representative experience

Other ways we can help you