Data Centers

Venable stands apart in providing a consolidated, comprehensive approach to data center legal services, delivering tailored support across every stage of a project's life cycle. This allows for a single point of contact for all services, from securing zoning rights to safeguarding data—helping clients build, operate, and protect their critical infrastructure.

Data centers face a growing web of legal and regulatory hurdles, from land use restrictions and environmental compliance to energy procurement and data security mandates. Venable helps clients navigate these challenges with strategic guidance that keeps projects moving forward and operations running efficiently, all while consolidating the full array of necessary legal services in one place under a single point of contact and avoiding the risk of using multiple firms.

With a team that spans multiple practice areas, we advise on securing necessary zoning and land use approvals, structuring real estate transactions, and navigating regulatory hurdles tied to environmental impact, energy sourcing, and telecommunications infrastructure. We guide developers through design- and construction-related risks, structuring contracts that align with the specialized needs of these facilities and your other agreements and obligations. We provide advice and counsel to minimize and avoid disputes, and to protect your interests when disputes or claims arise.

As power demands escalate, we assist with utility agreements, regulatory approvals, and energy procurement strategies. Our telecommunications attorneys structure fiber and conduit agreements and secure the necessary authorizations for seamless data transmission. On the cybersecurity front, we develop privacy compliance strategies and risk management solutions that align with evolving cybersecurity laws and standards.

Our deep understanding of the industry's regulatory landscape and operational needs allows Venable to deliver the integrated legal solutions that data center clients rely on to stay compliant, competitive, and resilient in a fast-changing environment.

Experience
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Representative Matters

  • Represented a web services, cloud computing company in land transaction and development negotiations with a regional utility provider
  • Drafted and negotiated complex data transport, fiber ring construction, joint build, and fiber/conduit IRU/lease agreements, as well as other related data transport agreements
  • Provided regulatory advice regarding the necessary telecommunications authorizations to build and operate transport facilities
  • Represented a development company in obtaining environmental permitting at a 2100-acre data center site in Maryland
  • Provided land use and zoning work for a web services, cloud computing company and assisted with work related to backup generators
  • Provided a tax assessment and counseled on appeal work for a real estate investment trust that owns, operates, and invests in carrier-neutral data centers across the world. The company offers data center, colocation, and interconnection services