WE SEE THE GCC AS A SIGNIFICANT AREA OF GROWTH FOR PURE DC .
D E E P D I V E
WE ‘ DEEP DIVE ’ WITH
NICOLA BURKE , CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER AT PURE DATA CENTRES , WHO TELLS US ABOUT LIFE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICE . w
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement in the data centre industry ?
I moved into the data centre industry after working as General Counsel for Mileway , Blackstone ’ s logistics platform in Europe , and before that for 15 years at US and UK law firms . Perhaps my biggest achievement has been learning a whole new language – as each industry has its own terms , acronyms and jargon .
It has been an exciting few months for Pure DC and I have been involved in leasing our new facility in Abu Dhabi and launching a joint venture in Saudi Arabia . We see the GCC as a significant area of growth for Pure DC .
The data centre sector was uncharted territory for me prior to joining Pure DC so the whole experience has been fascinating . I ’ ve had the opportunity to see first-hand how the industry is shaping the global economy and the challenges we face .
What first made you think of a career in technology / data centres ?
What initially attracted me to the data centre sector was the potential for growth . All you have to do is go online or look at the newspaper to see that the sector is booming and it ’ s only going to accelerate over the coming five to 10 years .
As data centres expand globally , driven by the growing demand for cloud services , AI and digital infrastructure , the need for specialised legal expertise is also at an all-time high .
It was clear to me early on that there was a need for further institutionalisation in this space . As data centres grow in scale and complexity , so too do the legal , regulatory and compliance challenges they face . As a lawyer , this is an exciting area to tackle . It ’ s also an industry that has captured the attention of institutional investors . As more capital flows into the sector this space , the
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WE SEE THE GCC AS A SIGNIFICANT AREA OF GROWTH FOR PURE DC .
opportunities for legal professionals to engage on both corporate transactions and financings as well as the day-today legal week is something I have done before and which I enjoy .
Ultimately , the growth trajectory of the sector made it a very attractive and rewarding field to join .
What style of management philosophy do you employ in your current position ?
In short , the opposite of dictatorial ! I think the key to success – whether it be in a team or in a company as a whole – is diversity of voice . I make a conscious effort to ensure the team around me have the space and confidence to share their opinion and
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