Data centre services
Advising the businesses that power the digital world
The global economy now runs on data. Behind every cloud platform, digital service and AI model lies a network of data centres — purpose-built environments designed to store, protect and deliver information at scale.
Fieldfisher is at the forefront of this transformation, helping clients plan, build, fund and operate data-centre assets across the UK and Europe.
Our multidisciplinary team — spanning Technology & Data, Real Estate, Energy & Infrastructure, Construction, Banking & Finance and [Corporate] M&A — works together to anticipate risks, solve complex legal challenges and drive projects forward. We focus on achieving practical, commercially sound outcomes that keep developments moving and investments secure.
Our approach
We treat data centres as a distinct asset class — combining the complexity of critical infrastructure with the agility of the technology market. Our team works with developers, operators, investors, utilities providers and occupiers to deliver projects that are technically robust, commercially viable and ready for the next wave of digital demand.
Whether building new capacity, restructuring an existing portfolio or negotiating major customer contracts, we work as an extension of our clients’ teams: pragmatic, responsive and focused on results.
What we do
Site acquisition and planning
Identifying the right site and securing development rights are the foundations of any successful project. We assist with:
- Land acquisition and due diligence
- Planning and environmental consents
- Grid-connection, utilities and wayleaves
- Access to communications networks and power corridors
- Joint-venture and option structures for multi-phase developments
Our experience includes advising on large-scale UK and European projects for hyperscale and colocation operators, including hybrid build-to-suit developments exceeding £600 million in value.
Design, construction and delivery
Data-centre construction presents unique contractual and regulatory challenges. Our Construction team advises on:
- Design-and-build and EPC contracts
- Consultant appointments and collateral warranties
- Interface management between developers, contractors and technology suppliers
- Procurement strategies to safeguard timelines, performance and budget
- Compliance with safety and environmental standards
We have delivered projects ranging from edge-data facilities to multi-site hyperscale campuses, ensuring efficient handover and minimal operational risk.
Power, utilities and connectivity
Resilience is the backbone of any data centre. We negotiate and structure:
- Power-purchase and energy-supply agreements
- Renewable and backup-generation solutions
- Telecommunications and fibre-network access
- Utility-infrastructure agreements, including easements and licences
Our energy and communications lawyers work side-by-side to secure long-term resilience and optimise cost efficiency across your sites.
Commercial and customer arrangements
Every facility relies on clear, bankable customer contracts. We advise on:
- Colocation and hosting agreements
- Master-service and framework agreements
- Lease and licence structures for data-centre occupancy
- Service-level obligations, performance metrics and liability caps
- Outsourcing and cloud-migration arrangements
Because our Technology & Data team understands both the legal and operational implications of service delivery, we ensure that contracts align with our client's infrastructure and regulatory obligations.
Financing, investment and corporate transactions
We act for lenders, investors, sponsors and corporates on a full range of transactions, including:
- Development and project financing
- Refinancing and structured debt facilities
- Acquisitions, disposals and portfolio reorganisations
- Joint ventures, platform investments and co-location partnerships
Our Finance and Corporate specialists bring extensive experience from infrastructure, real estate and technology transactions, helping clients achieve clean execution and sustainable returns.
Regulation, ESG and sustainability
The regulatory landscape is evolving fast, with data centres increasingly recognised as part of critical national infrastructure. Our lawyers advise on:
Data-sovereignty, cybersecurity and network-security compliance
Emerging requirements under the Building Safety and energy-efficiency regimes
Environmental performance standards and ESG reporting
Renewable-energy integration and carbon-reduction planning
We help clients anticipate future obligations and align their assets with market expectations on sustainability and resilience.
Dispute resolution and risk management
Even well-run projects encounter challenges. We provide early-stage risk analysis and, when necessary, robust representation in disputes concerning:
Construction delays and defects
Service-level failures and warranty claims
- Power-supply interruptions or connectivity issues
- Regulatory enforcement and contractual termination
Our Disputes team works to resolve matters quickly, discreetly and in line with your commercial objectives.