Overview
Steptoe partner Michelle Kallen appeared on Bloomberg Law's "On The Merits" podcast to discuss the legal complexities surrounding the rapid expansion of data centers across the United States.
In the episode, Michelle highlights the intersectional nature of data center work and how Steptoe’s data center practice brings together lawyers who specialize in energy, real estate and land use, regulatory, appellate, and more. Michelle discusses mounting regulatory scrutiny facing data center projects, particularly around energy capacity, water usage, and infrastructure strain. She explains how large-scale data centers can require grid connections comparable to those of small cities, prompting developers to explore alternative energy solutions, including self-generation.
Michelle also outlines the evolving legislative and regulatory landscape – spanning federal, state, and local levels – that clients must navigate. "Keeping track of pending legislation and regulation is a constant issue for clients," Michelle notes, emphasizing the growing need for legal knowledge in this space. She encourages attorneys from diverse practice areas to consider how their skills may be relevant to data center work, citing political law and federalism as key areas of crossover. Michelle shares how Steptoe's appellate group is uniquely positioned to advise clients on emerging legal issues.
