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Data Centres
Our lawyers provide integrated, end-to-end legal support for data centre projects across the UK.
We act for developers, funders, operators, investors and occupiers throughout the entire lifecycle of a data centre — from site identification and acquisition through to development, operation, expansion and dispute resolution.
The growth of AI, cloud computing, high-performance computing and data-driven services are all increasing demand for digital infrastructure. Data centres are central to that transition but the sector faces significant legal, commercial and operational challenges — from power availability and grid connection to rising energy costs, cooling and water use, planning policy, sustainability credentials, land availability, construction risk, cybersecurity and regulatory uncertainty.
With deep sector knowledge and a truly joined-up, multidisciplinary offering, we’re here to help you navigate the many complexities that define data centre projects. We work closely with clients, consultants, contractors and funders to identify risk early, allocate it appropriately and keep projects moving. Whether you’re entering the UK data centre market, expanding an existing portfolio or managing operational risk, our team can provide clear, decisive and commercially grounded advice at every stage.
A key part of the data centre conversation is always how environmental impact can be properly understood and mitigated. As a certified B Corp, we’re independently recognised for being leaders in responsible business. We won ESG Firm of the Year at The Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2026 and truly understand the issues at play and how to resolve them, including connecting you with the right consultants at the right stage in the process, particularly during planning and construction.
We also understand the importance of power, connectivity, resilience and operational uptime. Our specialisms in cybersecurity and data protection are designed to help prepare business and prevent and respond to incidents. We provide support to build resilience by developing proactive governance, accountability and risk management measures that understand both your operating environment and regulatory drivers.
Talk to our experts today. Call 0333 004 4488, email hello@brabners.com or complete our contact form.
Representing clients across the data centre ecosystem
We work with a huge variety of clients from across the entire data centre ecosystem, including:
- Landowners, commercial landowners, industrial estate owners and local authorities.
- Investors, private equity, pension funds, REITs and infrastructure funds.
- Data centre operators, including colocation and platform providers.
- Developers, design and delivery specialists.
- Telecoms and enterprise owner-occupiers.
- Contractors, M&E consultants, engineers, project managers and professional advisers.
- Energy, utilities, connectivity, network and subsea cable providers.
- Technology, cloud, AI and high-performance computing businesses with specific resilience, sovereignty or infrastructure requirements.
Our recent data centre mandates include TCC proceedings concerning payment notice validity, restructuring appointments following main contractor collapse, early-stage construction documentation for data centre redevelopment, CHP installation within a data centre environment and international M&E design consultancy support.
Our data centre work has included:
Deerns UK Limited — successful TCC proceedings
Acting for Deerns UK in a dispute in relation to a data centre against VDC. Key issue of whether the relevant contract was non-compliant with the Construction Act which then meant that the employer’s PLNs were late. This point was taken through part 8 proceedings in the TCC (with CMS acting for VDC). Brabners, acting for Deerns, was successful, with the client to be paid £910k plus VAT plus costs.
Engineering consultancy — redevelopment of large data centre project
Advising an engineering consultancy on complex contractual, delay and insurance issues arising during the redevelopment of a large data centre project, including assessment of non conformance notices, analysis of delay exposure following the main contractor’s administration, negotiation strategy for potential step in and re procurement arrangements and advice on professional indemnity coverage and insurer declinature.
Overseas developer — Surrey data centre redevelopment
Acting for an overseas developer on the early stage construction documentation for the redevelopment of a large commercial campus into a new Surrey based data centre facility. Preparing and negotiating the construction contracts for the initial strip out and enabling works, forming the first phase of a wider digital infrastructure development programme.
Engineering consultancy — continuation after main contractor collapse
Advising an engineering consultancy on the restructuring and continuation of its appointment on a major data centre project following the collapse of the main contractor, including drafting and negotiating step in arrangements, advising on termination strategy, reviewing existing professional appointments and warranties, negotiating revised scope and fee proposals and advising on coordination responsibilities, design risk allocation and inspection obligations under the new project structure.
Energy solutions provider — CHP plant in data centre environment
Advising an energy solutions provider on a bespoke subcontract for the installation of a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant within a data centre environment, including negotiation of technical risk allocation, interface obligations and performance requirements.
M&E design consultancy — international projects
Advising on a part-time secondment at an M&E design consultancy which specialises in data centre design services. Undertaking both front-end contract reviews and dispute avoidance/resolution work for projects in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Specifically advising and resolving disputes in relation to defective design and non-payment of fees for services across numerous jurisdictions.
Data centre insights from our Future of Tech conference 2026
Our Future of Tech conference brought together technologists, business leaders, policymakers and researchers to explore how emerging technologies are shaping the economy, society and the environment — and how they can be adopted more responsibly.
One of our three panel sessions focused on data centres and quantum computing, which play critical roles in the infrastructure that underpins digital transformation.
Our panellists included representatives from Nvidia, Kao Data, the Science and Technology Facilities Council and SLR Consulting, who highlighted that data centres are essential but often misunderstood, that environmental impact varies by location, design and cooling technology and that sustainable outcomes depend on joined-up action across industry, government and education.
We understand that the sector isn’t one-size-fits-all. Hyperscale facilities, colocation platforms, edge and urban data centres, enterprise facilities, campus redevelopments and heat-reuse models all raise different issues. Some projects are driven by large-scale, out-of-town power and connectivity needs while others are connected to regeneration, occupier demand, local authority involvement, sustainable heat reuse and wider infrastructure strategy.
Find out more by reading our write-up and watching our highlights package below.
Watch: Future of Tech 2026 highlights
Our expertise includes:
Specialist lawyers for data centre projects
Our data centre team is led by Colin Bell and Jennie Jones.
A Partner and the head of our IP & technology sector teams, Colin leads on the commercial side of data centre projects including around technology, services and digital infrastructure agreements, IP and data protection. He’s widely recognised by leading legal directories like The Legal 500 (which praises his “strategic” expertise) and Chambers (for his “wealth of experience”).
A Partner in our construction team, Jennie specialises in helping clients to manage risk and avoid disputes. She oversees the drafting and negotiation of contract documentation, is involved in live project delivery support and is experienced in adjudication and litigation claims relating to delay, extensions of time, loss and expense, defective works and design. She’s also picked out by The Legal 500 for working to "an exceptionally high standard". Jennie is the founder and Chair of our Building Links network — a group for construction and property professionals that provides a platform to drive education through the sector, collaborate and share best practice.
Dan McCormack leads on the corporate side. Recognised as an expert in M&A by Chambers, Dan is also highly experienced in MBOs, group reorganisations, joint ventures and shareholders’ agreements. Clients speak highly of his accurate, honest and good-humoured approach to legal advice.
Meet your team
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