Director, Legal, Infrastructure, EMEA
Nscale · London
Director, Legal, Infrastructure, EMEA
About Nscale
Nscale is taking on the hyperscalers by building a vertically integrated GenAI cloud platform. We own the data centres, software, and applications that power today’s AI stack using sustainable technology solutions. We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an Nscaler, you’ll build trust through openness and transparency, where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Collaboration is key, and we work together swiftly and respectfully, embracing adaptability and resilience in all we do.
About the role
The Director, Legal, Infrastructure, EMEA is Nscale’s dedicated UK-based infrastructure counsel for EMEA, reporting to the VP, Legal, Infrastructure.
This is a hands-on execution role covering the full contracting lifecycle for Nscale’s EMEA data centre campuses: construction, design and consultancy, major equipment supply and O&M, real estate, and power from term sheet through delivery and closeout.
As Director, you will lead your own matters end-to-end, negotiate directly with major counterparties, and apply consistent commercial and legal positions across multiple jurisdictions. You will work closely with local external counsel where jurisdiction-specific advice is required.
What you’ll be doing
- Lead the negotiation of owner-contractor, EPC, EPCM and design-and-build agreements for data centre campus construction across EMEA.
- Draft and negotiate design and consultancy agreements with architects, engineers and specialist consultants, including framework/work-order structures, ownership of deliverables and professional liability.
- Negotiate supply, installation and O&M agreements for on-site power generation and critical electrical and mechanical equipment, including performance guarantees, warranties and service levels.
- Support site acquisition, development arrangements and ground leases, as well as power procurement, utility, interconnection and power purchase arrangements, in coordination with regulatory and local counsel.
- Maintain and improve Nscale’s infrastructure contract templates and playbooks, including appropriate use of JCT, NEC, FIDIC and bespoke contracting structures.
- Run counterparty comment rounds and drive consistent house positions across projects, while adapting for local law and market practice.
- Manage contracts through delivery and closeout, including change orders, cost and schedule claims, payment and retention issues, defect correction and dispute avoidance.
- Coordinate insurance and bonding requirements with the insurance team, and partner with Debt Capital Markets Legal on lender requirements for project-financed sites.
- Manage EMEA outside counsel, including scope, budgets and quality of advice.
- Partner closely with construction, procurement, finance, real estate, energy and operations teams to support project delivery at pace.
What you need
- 7+ years PQE in construction and infrastructure legal experience, gained in-house and/or at a top-tier law firm.
- Qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales, or another relevant EMEA jurisdiction, in good standing. England and Wales qualification is strongly preferred.
- Strong track record negotiating major construction, EPC/EPCM, design-and-build, professional services and equipment supply agreements for large-scale, mission-critical or industrial projects.
- Experience working across multiple EMEA jurisdictions and managing local counsel effectively.
- Fluency in construction risk allocation, including pricing structures, delay remedies, warranties and defects, indemnities, insurance, liability caps and dispute-resolution provisions.
- A confident first-chair negotiator, able to run multiple high-value contracts in parallel and drive them to signature.
- Ability to explain complex legal and commercial risk clearly to non-lawyers and senior stakeholders.
- Comfort working alongside project finance, power, insurance and regulatory counterparts.
Nice to haves
- Prior experience at a hyperscaler, colocation provider, data centre developer, major contractor or infrastructure investor.
- Energy and power project experience, including equipment supply, O&M, utility/interconnection or power purchase arrangements.
- Experience with JCT, NEC and/or FIDIC forms.
- Construction claims and dispute-resolution experience.
- Additional European language skills.
Join Nscale as we build a world-class AI cloud platform. If you’re ready to lead infrastructure contracting for hyperscale data centre projects across EMEA at one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure companies, we’d love to hear from you.