As companies accelerate the evolution of the future of advanced computing, they cannot afford to let legal or regulatory hurdles impede progress. With extensive expertise spanning real estate development and construction, power generation, energy regulation, and technology, Buchanan is uniquely positioned to guide you through these complexities. With our extensive experience in large scale energy and technology driven projects, we proactively identify potential challenges and craft strategic solutions, ensuring your business stays ahead in this fast-paced industry.
The Buchanan Advantage for Data Center Developers and Operators:
From site to center, Buchanan is your comprehensive legal partner dedicated to supporting the unique needs of data center developers and operators. We assist in navigating complex legal and regulatory landscapes that impact the constructability, operation, and scalability of data center infrastructure. Our attorneys and government relations professionals bring decades of experience working with clients across energy, finance, real estate, construction, natural resources, site acquisition, utility negotiations, zoning and permitting, commissioning, compliance requirements, tax planning, and more.
Your Regional Partner in Key U.S. Data Center Markets
Leveraging our deep industry experience and local knowledge from New York to Chicago and down to Florida, our cross-sectional team streamlines your projects and transactions—helping you accelerate development timelines, mitigate risks, and ensure full regulatory compliance. Companies trust us as their strategic partner in building the data centers and intelligent infrastructure that drive the digital economy in these dynamic markets.
We help clients with:
- Real Estate & Site Selections: Assessing optimal locations considering not just ownership and accessibility but also connectivity, power availability, and future scalability needs.
- Zoning, Local Permitting & Land Use Guidance: Navigating complex local regulations to secure timely approvals for data center construction and expansion
- Government Relations: Building strategic relationships with state and local regulators and policymakers to facilitate project approvals and policies.
- Power Generation & Public Utility: Securing reliable, cost-effective energy supply agreements, including renewable options and utility and direct interconnections essential for data center operations.
- Finance & Transaction: Structuring project financing, tax incentives, and investment transactions to optimize capital deployment and mitigate risks.
- Construction Contracts: Drafting and negotiating contracts that address the unique technical and logistical challenges of data center and related power generation build-outs.
- Environmental Regulation & Compliance: Navigating environmental regulations and permitting and e adherence to environmental compliance related to energy consumption, emissions, water use, air, and more.
- Tax: Identifying and maximizing tax credits, incentives, and other financial benefits available for data center development and related power generation, including renewable and other energy credits.
Supporting Clients from Site to Cloud:
Partner with us to position your organization as a leader in the evolving data center landscape. Our integrated teams work seamlessly across the entire data center lifecycle, and our collaborative approach ensures streamlined development, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance at every stage, making us the trusted partner for building the next generation of intelligent, resilient infrastructure in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. We offer clients additional legal capabilities in:
Our Advanced Technology Industry Group
Innovations in technology – from artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to data analytics and more –are completely transforming the way the world works. Few law firms have the combination of knowledge and experience to provide advanced counsel in these game-changing arenas. Buchanan stands above the rest. Learn more about our Advanced Technology group.
Litigation
Our litigators support data center developers by handling disputes across a wide range of areas critical to infrastructure projects. With deep experience in property rights litigation, eminent domain, and just compensation, we help navigate land acquisition challenges. Our team also specializes in complex financing disputes, intellectual property matters, employment issues, and regulatory conflicts—all essential components of successful data center development. With a proven track record across industries, we’re prepared to protect your interests and resolve disputes efficiently, ensuring your projects stay on track.
Data Privacy
While advanced technology offers countless opportunities for innovation, it also presents a wide range of risks. At Buchanan, we advise clients on all aspects of data privacy, including how different laws vary across states and international borders, to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risk. We have assisted companies with developing corporate AI and automation policies, procedures and implementation plans to safeguard the critical data included in these platforms. We also offer employee training and create vendor policies and pre-breach action plans to protect companies and their partners from the increase in cyberattacks that come with advanced AI.
Intellectual Property
Buchanan brings unparalleled knowledge of the advanced technology and data space with a full complement of IP services, including copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets and more. Our IP attorneys manage every detail of the filings and work with you to determine the best strategy for protection considering both pre- and post-market challenges. We also boast a strong transactional practice and can counsel you on your technology portfolio management and strategy, licensing and technology transfer, distribution agreements, and risk-reduction strategies. Finally, if any potential infringement arises, our team is well equipped to fight for what you own and ensure your innovation maintains its value over the short and long term.
International Trade Expertise
The constantly evolving landscape of international trade rules presents unique challenges for sourcing specialized power generation, computing equipment, and other critical components manufactured overseas. Our experienced international trade attorneys assist data center developers and operators in navigating these regulations, ensuring all transactions comply with federal and international laws. We help you mitigate risks, optimize supply chains, and stay ahead of changing trade policies to keep your projects on track globally.