Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure

Cooley has been a trusted advisor in the data center industry since the 1990s. Led by our infrastructure, energy and real estate team with deep roots in Northern Virginia – home to 70% of the world’s internet traffic – today we help clients attain entitlements, and buy, sell, build, lease, operate, finance and scale facilities across the United States and internationally. Our team combines deep sector knowledge with the ability to mobilize cross-disciplinary resources, helping clients navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of the digital economy, mitigate risks and capitalize on emerging opportunities with foresight and precision.

Transactional teams for the full data center life cycle – from site identification, land acquisition, entitlements, power procurement and interconnection strategy through development, construction, complex financings, commercial contracting, leasing, operations, portfolio optimization and dispositions.

Our multidisciplinary team – spanning real estate, energy and infrastructure, debt finance, capital markets, tax equity, M&A, technology transactions, cybersecurity, environmental, land use and litigation – provides a complete, coordinated solution for investors, developers, operators and users participating in the data center and digital infrastructure ecosystem.

Power access and grid certainty shape site selection, project timing and asset value. Cooley advises on interconnection strategy, power procurement – including renewable energy and behind-the-meter solutions – storage, distributed generation and related utility regulatory considerations so projects can advance on realistic timelines and meet evolving sustainability objectives.

Advising on regulatory, utility, commercial, tax and operational considerations across domestic and international jurisdictions, and helping clients efficiently advance their projects by engaging the right stakeholders – from utilities and government authorities to joint venture partners and capital providers.