Sidley Elevates Cross-Practice Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure Platform for the Next Phase of Digital Infrastructure Investment

Sidley is elevating its cross-practice Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure advisory platform, bringing together lawyers from across the firm to support clients through the full lifecycle of data center development, investment, financing, and operations. Building on the firm’s long history of serving major technology-sector clients, Sidley has been advising on data center and digital infrastructure matters for more than two decades. The Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure platform today brings together 135 partners across 18 offices and 29 practices to advise clients through the full lifecycle of data center development, investment, financing, and operations.

Sidley regularly advises developers, investors, lenders, technology companies, energy providers, and other market participants on data center matters, including with respect to regulatory, power, commercial arrangements, development, real estate, construction, tax structuring, REITs, capital markets, M&A, and financing. Recent public representations include representing Apex Treasury Corp. (NASDAQ: APXT) in its proposed business combination with TECfusions, Inc.; advising H.I.G. Capital and Polar on the financing of a high-performance computing data center in Norway; and advising GDS Holdings on its strategic partnership with Indonesia Investment Authority.

“For more than a decade we’ve sat on every side of these deals with developers, investors, lenders, operators and the energy providers that power them, across the Americas, Europe and Asia,” said Cliff Vrielink, co-lead of the firm’s Data Center group and global leader of the Energy, Transportation and Infrastructure practice. “That breadth of experience is the point. It is why we can see around corners where a project will be tested. Whether it will be assessed on power, on regulation, on financing structure, our team is there to remove obstacles, and help clients build platforms that hold up. Depth in any one area is useful but having a team that meets all their demands is what clients tell us sets Sidley apart.”

Although the need for additional data center capacity is acute, a number of high-profile projects have encountered serious development obstacles. Amid an increased focus on community and social impacts, it is critical for developers to ensure that they comply with all applicable regulations and align themselves with local and community priorities. Sidley has been instrumental in helping clients navigate these complexities. Clients that have encountered unexpected challenges during development turn to Sidley to help them resolve regulatory and community concerns in a way that serves the interests of all parties involved — helping keep critical projects on track and, in turn, supporting the growing global need for reliable power and expanded digital infrastructure.

“The importance of electrification demands for data centers and digital infrastructure development is a gating item for the future success of widespread AI adoption and supply. The stakes for thoughtful, optimal structuring, project development and financing have never been higher.” said Tara Higgins, a co-leader of Sidley’s global Energy, Transportation and Infrastructure practice and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. “Sidley’s ability to partner with our clients through the delivery of an integrated, multidisciplinary platform (including regulatory, project development, financing and equity raises and M&A) increases success for all the stakeholders in the digital value chain.”

Today’s data center projects require coordinated advice across project development, energy and power procurement, finance and capital markets, real estate and construction, environmental and permitting, tax, regulatory, commercial and technology matters, and disputes. These are no longer separate workstreams; Sidley’s integrated team advises clients from site acquisition and capital formation through construction, operations, transactions, and exit.