Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner brings enduring value to client relationships. By combining the practice experience, industry knowledge and market connections of more than 1,200 lawyers in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with our recognized leadership in applying legal service and technology innovation, we deliver commercial advantage to clients.

From idea to scale, we live in a new entrepreneurial age where leadership thinking needs to cut through the noise to deliver on a vision and blueprint to success. The Great Business Minds podcast goes inside the business with the leaders, inventors, investors, executives, trendspotters and visionaries of today to explore what it really takes to build a brand beyond conventional wisdom and disrupt the marketplace with the next big leap in entrepreneurship innovation. Seize the moment with host João Marques Lima, journalist and former editor-in-chief of FTSE 250 tech publications.

Providing specialised news solutions and other media and events services, Mondego Media Group (MMG) focuses on the tailored offering of intelligence and experiences for digital leaders, investors, and stakeholders. Our brands include The Tech Capital, the centre of breaking news for digital infrastructure.

Barry is co-leader of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s global practice for the Data Centres and Digital Infrastructure Team. The BCLP team has acted for operators, funders, investors and corporates on a range of investment, leasing and M&A transactions and in the last two years has closed over 2GW of data centre leasing transactions globally.

Barry has experience advising on data centre acquisitions, the management and disposal of data centre sites, data centre leasing, forward funding arrangements and more. His clients include developers of, investors in and operators and funders of data centres. Barry is a regular participant in DCDI panels on diverse topics including the future of data centre investment and financing, Data Centres as an infrastructure investment opportunity and the challenges of ESG in the data centre industry.

Ms Anne Foster is a director with over 15 years’ experience across investment, financial advisory, asset management and investment banking focused on infrastructure and global energy. Ms. Foster is responsible for leading the firm’s ESG and Sustainability activities including Vice President for the CEI division at Capital Dynamics Group between 2010 and 2014, supporting investment analysis, fundraising and investment transaction project management.

She previously worked in Asset Management for Deutsche Bank Asset Management Infrastructure, Grant Samuel M&A and Investment Banking at Credit Suisse.

Ms Foster as completed postgraduate studies at MIT in Digital Transformation (Blockchain, IoT, Cryptocurrencies, AI and Cybersecurity), holds a Master of Applied Finance from the Securities Institute of Australia, a Bachelor of Science (specialising in Environmental Science) from the University of New South Wales, Australia with First Class Honours and has also studied under scholarship at the University of California, Santa Barbara in the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management.

Oliver Bradley is Managing Director, Digital Infrastructure Investing at Macquarie Capital, the advisory, capital markets and principal investment arm of Macquarie Group Limited. The Digital Infrastructure team invests directly in and supports the growth of companies that are facilitating the increasing data consumption of businesses and consumers, including fibre networks and data centres.

Since returning to Macquarie in 2019 (he previously worked at the firm from 2005-15), Oliver has led Macquarie Capital’s investment into Voneus, a UK rural Fixed Wireless to Fibre broadband developer and Onivia, a new SPV Macquarie established to acquire Fibre to the Home networks in Spain, creating Spain’s first wholesale only FTTH network with a footprint in excess of 2m homes.

Prior to re-joining Macquarie, Oliver was Corporate Finance Director at CityFibre, the wholesale FTTx business and largest UK Altnet. Before CityFibre, Oliver was a commercial specialist at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, part of the UK government. There he advised ministers on digital infrastructure policy and was responsible for the Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund, which saw the UK government commit £400m, matched by private sector investors on the same terms, to invest in UK fibre.

Tom Glover is a seasoned data center expert, currently Head of Data Centre Transactions, EMEA at JLL where he leads JLL’s transactional services for occupier, operator and developer clients in the date centre sector.

Emma is a Partner in ERM’s EMEA Technology Team, specialising in data centre sustainability and resilience, policy and regulation. Before joining ERM she spent over a decade providing a collective voice for data centre operators in matters of policy, compliance and reputation at techUK.

During this time she led the UK policy dialogue on behalf of the sector, monitored regulatory developments, responded to consultations and produced sector-specific guidance on multiple legislative instruments ranging from data protection to air quality. She has a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing this growing sector - from power provisioning to public perception.

She has produced over 200 publications ranging from industry positions to infographics and has established a reputation for thought leadership, readability and clarity of expression.

In 2021 she was elected to the Board of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact and appointed to the Infrastructure Masons Advisory Council. She is a regular speaker at industry events and a judge on international panels.

Victoria is a partner in the Antitrust & Competition group in Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner's (BCLP) London office. Prior to joining BCLP, Victoria was competition counsel at Bloomberg, responsible for providing support on competition law matters globally. Victoria has extensive experience in antitrust/competition law, having worked in private practice and industry, internationally and within the UK.

Victoria holds a post-graduate qualification in competition law from Kings College, London. She advises on merger control, complex behavioural investigations and antitrust counselling and has represented clients on some of the most high profile cases before the European Commission, Competition & Markets Authority, Financial Conduct Authority and other national competition agencies around the world.

She has particular expertise in the technology, financial services and retail sectors. Victoria is recommended in the Legal 500 as a “rising star”, “very proactive to client needs, giving solid, commercially focussed advice” (Legal 500, 2018).

Victoria is described by clients as “knowledgable”, “very professional” and “fast thinking” (Legal 500, 2017).

Michael Winterson joined Equinix in September 2007 through the acquisition of IXEurope. During his time at Equinix, Michael held the positions of both Vice President of Marketing and Vice President of Sales, before moving into his current role as Managing Director Equinix (Services). He created the EMEA Business Development team to align with Equinix’s Strategy, Services and Innovation division.

Before working in Equinix, Michael was part of the start-up management team of IXEurope, which began in 2000. He brings over nearly two decades of data center services experience and held various senior positions in-country management, sales and marketing.

Before IXEurope, Michael was involved in two other technology start-ups in Europe that were eventually sold to the US and Japanese companies.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and French from Northwestern University and a Master’s Degree in International Economics from the Graduate Institute – Geneva.

Michael is a board member of the European Datacentre Association (EUDCA) and Director of their Policy Committee. He also is a board member of the charity group New Life Nyambene.

David founded Goldacre in 2012, which is now part of the Noé Group. He is responsible for the Noé Group’s digital infrastructure and venture capital investments. David has a wide-ranging background with over 17 years’ experience in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications industry as an investor, founder and investment manager. He has personally overseen the deployment of more than £500m of equity investment.

David is a serial founder, having founded IPVision in 2007 and Kao Data within Goldacre in 2013. He is a skilled people manager, commercial negotiator, strategist, forecasting and budget manager and presenter.David has a keen interest in education having been a youth director and school governor, he is also on the board of PaJeS, who provide services, support and strategy to schools across the UK, and is Chair of Jewish Interactive, the educational technology charity.

Sujoy joined Shinsei International Limited, a subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank, Limited in 2019, having previously worked at Santander Bank. At Shinsei International, Sujoy is responsible for the Bank's deal sourcing, advising and international syndication & distribution activities in the renewables, infrastructure, real estate, aircraft and shipping sector. In this role, he was instrumental in the development of the Bank’s international investments platform and originate to distribute model.

Over ten years of experience in project finance, both debt advisory and arranging renewables and infrastructure transactions. For the past six years, much of his focus has been on the UK and European renewables and infrastructure sector. While working alongside many major sponsors, developers, infrastructure funds as well as with a variety of commercial banks, export credit agencies and institutional investors, he has built a strong experience in the debt syndication, structuring, advising and negotiations of large and complex project finance transactions globally.

John is a Director in SMBC specialising in Data Centre Funding. Experience to date is providing structured debt and financing solutions to operators in the sector, and transactions include those to Hyperscale, Wholesale and Retail Data Centre Operators as well as to Managed Service Providers. As one of world's leading investment banks, SMBC is ideally placed to support investors in the DC sector, having a market leading presence across EMEA, APAC and the Americas.

Deborah is a partner in the Projects Department who specialises in global finance, energy and infrastructure development. She regularly advises financial institutions, multinational corporations and government agencies developing power, oil and gas and infrastructure projects in emerging markets and other regions worldwide.

Her experience includes both representing clients in relation to commercial contracts and also structuring, drafting and negotiating complex project financings. She is a member of the firm's Renewables Focus Group and does much of her work in the renewables sector.

Recent renewables work has included acquisitions and financings of several portfolios of wind, biomass and landfill gas generation assets.

Paul joined Principal Real Estate Europe in May 2021 to be Principal’s Director for European Data Centres responsible for data centre asset and transaction management for the Principal European Data Centre Fund I.

Paul has 14 years of experience in the data centre sector. Prior to joining Principal Paul was Director Group Data Centres at SEGRO with responsibility for SEGRO’s 30 asset £900m data centre portfolio.

Paul joined SEGRO in 2000 undertaking a variety of roles including Corporate Acquisitions Manager, Group Business Development Manager and Regional Director for SEGRO’s £1.7bn Thames Valley portfolio with responsibility for its 6 million sq ft of accommodation and 350 customers. During his time in this role Paul was responsible for transforming the Group’s largest asset, the Slough Trading Estate into Europe’s preeminent data centre hub.

Paul originally qualified as a Chartered Surveyor with Vail Williams, spending 10 years with the firm undertaking commercial agency work before specialising in Landlord and Tenant and valuation.

Jinal is a prolific deal-maker and advises private and public companies, funds and investors on high-value cross border M&A, private equity, joint ventures and strategic investments.

He represents clients on a wide range of commercial agreements and often helps multinational businesses navigate the complex regulatory environments of the different jurisdictions in which they operate.

His clients span a variety of sectors, including infrastructure, food & agriculture, retail, technology, media, entertainment, manufacturing and financial services. Jinal regularly advises on cross-border matters, particularly in emerging markets.

Jinal is ranked as a leading individual in M&A by the legal directories, with clients noting in Chambers UK that he is “excellent - thorough, responsive and flexible” and with Legal 500 noting that he is “very good under pressure and in putting people at ease" and a “source of a great deal of market knowledge and practice”.

Derek Webster is a Data Centre sector consultant, advisory, client principle & advocate and Speaker. He has over 30+years sector experience. He spans the gambit working with clients from funding rounds, pre-budget business case, DC strategy, market positioning, to country & site selection, design & build to delivery. Former Board Member Green Mountain AS (Norway.)

He has led teams delivering global digital infrastructure, strategy and solutions. He has worked with Hyperscalers, Global brands, Telecoms and enterprises. Helped governments & development agencies to align and review their Foreign Direct Investors (FDI), attractiveness, ‘Value Propositions’ to their National offers. Worked with land owners, SPVs, PE in find the value of pre-investment strategy.

Kenneth has extensive experience in structuring, negotiating and drafting complex energy infrastructure and service contracts across generation, transmission, distribution and supply.

He regularly advises developers, utilities, contractors and funders on the components required to create robust project income streams ranging from power purchase agreements, contracts for difference, heat offtakes, price setting arrangements and Government subsidy regimes.

Kenneth works in all utility sectors both in and outside the UK and increasingly advises on “behind the meter” energy solutions, energy efficiency schemes and district/community heating projects.

João is the founder and editor of The Tech Capital. Winner of the Professional Publishers Association (PPA) 30 Under 30 media award and the Infrastructure Masons IM100 Award 2022, he owns a real passion for the media and has experience across online, print and broadcast. He has reported from over 30 countries worldwide, filming interviews with CEOs of big tech companies and government figures, amongst others. He is the founder and host of the Great Business Minds Podcast and prior to that, João has experienced the reporting industry at Data Economy, which he created for BroadGroup and where he also invented the Finvest Summit (all acquired by Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc in 2017), Capacity Media, Computer Business Review/Tech Monitor, the Daily Mail, Channel 4 News, Channel 4, The Guardian, Antena Lusa and Future Behind.