The Senior Corporate Counsel manages complex real estate transactions for data center operations, handling negotiations, contract design, due diligence, and risk management.
Serverfarm is a leading developer and operator of data centers with over 750+ locations and key customer relationships in 45 countries. We're revolutionizing how data centers operate across North America, Western Europe, and Israel, serving the world's leading technology and hyperscale companies. With Manulife Investment Management's acquisition in 2023 and our award-winning InCommand platform we're positioned for explosive growth as AI adoption and cloud migration drive unprecedented demand for data center capacity.
A career at Serverfarm means being at the forefront of digital infrastructure innovation, where your work directly impacts how the world's data is managed and secured. As we target 4x growth over the next four years, you'll have unprecedented opportunities to take on new challenges, develop cutting-edge skills, and grow your career across our expanding global operations.
Join our team of innovators and help shape the future of sustainable data centers while building a career without boundaries.
The Senior Counsel – Data Center Real Estate serves as a strategic legal advisor responsible for structuring, negotiating, and executing complex real estate transactions that underpin data center acquisition, leasing development, financing and operations. This role integrates legal expertise with real estate and commercial acumen to support hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data center initiatives.
The position requires deep fluency in real estate law, contract architecture, and transaction structuring, with a particular emphasis on data center infrastructure and long-term asset strategies as well as familiarity with real estate finance.Key Accountabilities
- Lead the legal structuring of end-to-end data center real estate transactions, including:
- Land acquisitions and dispositions
- Ground leases
- Build-to-suit developments
- Sale-leasebacks and joint ventures
- Translate business objectives into legally enforceable frameworks that align risk allocation, capital deployment, and operational control.
- Design transaction structures that account for:
- Power availability and utility agreements
- Zoning, entitlements, and land use constraints
- Phased development and expansion rights
- Tax and financing considerations
- Draft, review, and negotiate sophisticated real estate agreements, including:
- Purchase and Sale Agreements (PSAs)
- Ground leases and long-term land control instruments
- Data center leases (triple-net, powered shell, wholesale colocation)
- Easements, licenses, and access agreements
- Development agreements and construction-related contracts
- Architect contract frameworks that clearly define:
- Risk allocation
- Performance obligations and milestones
- Remedies and termination rights
- Drive negotiations with counterparties including developers, land owners, utilities, municipalities, and investors.
- Oversee comprehensive real estate due diligence, including:
- Title, survey, and encumbrance analysis
- Environmental assessments (Phase I/II)
- Land use, zoning, and permitting compliance
- Identify and mitigate risks related to:
- Site control and access
- Utility dependency and infrastructure constraints
- Regulatory and jurisdictional issues
- Partner with internal stakeholders across:
- Real estate and site selection
- Development and construction
- Finance and capital markets
- Operations and engineering
- Coordinate external counsel, brokers, and consultants to ensure alignment and efficiency in deal execution.
- Manage transaction timelines from initial term sheet through closing and post-closing obligations.
Transaction Structuring & Deal Architecture
Contract Design & Negotiation
Due Diligence & Risk Management
Cross-Functional Deal Execution
Key Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
- 8–12+ years of experience in commercial real estate law, preferably with:
- Data center, energy, or infrastructure transactions
- Large law firm and/or in-house experience
- Demonstrated experience leading complex real estate negotiations and closings
- Advanced knowledge of commercial real estate law and transaction mechanics
- Deep understanding of contract structuring and legal design principles
- Ability to align legal frameworks with business strategy and financial models
- Strong negotiation skills in high-value, multi-party transactions
- Understanding of capital structures, investment vehicles, and return metrics
- Capability to design scalable, repeatable deal structures
- Anticipation of long-term operational and expansion needs
- Risk-adjusted decision-making in complex environments
Serverfarm is committed to providing an equal opportunity workplace and offers paid time off, paid holidays, 401k and FULL coverage medical, dental and vision. Our compensation philosophy rewards employees for achieving the values and objectives aligned with the company’s goals and strategic initiatives.
The listed salary range for this position is an estimate based on the competitive job market. Final compensation will be based on your own individual skills, experience, and location.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this role. They are not intended to serve as an exhaustive list of all possible responsibilities and duties. We encourage you to apply even if your experience isn't an exact match to the job description.
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