Orrick Hires TJ Kuban to Expand Data Center Team
The firm adds a new partner in Chicago to bolster its growing practice amid rising demand for specialized infrastructure.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Data Centers
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Orrick Herrington and Sutcliffe has officially added TJ Kuban as a partner in Chicago. This move strengthens the firms data center practice as the legal market adjusts to a surge in specialized infrastructure projects.
Why it matters
The hire reflects a broader industry push to support hyperscalers that require rapid access to power and compute resources. Artificial intelligence development continues to accelerate the pace at which companies build and deploy data centers.
TJ Kuban joins the firm after working on a $40 million purchase of a data center operator by BlackRock in July 2026. His transition is part of an effort to provide technical legal support for hyperscalers scaling their infrastructure.
The players
TJ Kuban
He is a partner and legal expert who recently transitioned from Kirkland and Ellis to Orrick Herrington and Sutcliffe.
Orrick Herrington and Sutcliffe
It is a global law firm that provides legal services to companies in the technology, energy, and financial sectors.
BlackRock
It is a prominent global investment management corporation that oversees significant capital in infrastructure and data center assets.
The details
Kuban arrives at Orrick Herrington and Sutcliffe from Kirkland and Ellis, bringing experience in navigating large-scale infrastructure transactions. The firm is focusing its resources on the complex regulatory and technical needs of clients expanding their footprint in the data center sector.
Timeline
July 2026: BlackRock purchased a data center operator.
October 26, 2026: Orrick announced the hire of TJ Kuban.
The Tech Race
The firm's strategic hiring aligns with the industry-wide trend of securing specialized legal counsel to navigate the rapid expansion of data center infrastructure driven by artificial intelligence compute demand. This move replaces ad-hoc advisory models with a dedicated practice group capable of handling the high-stakes transaction volumes typical of modern hyperscaler development.
Clients in the data center industry can expect more streamlined legal support for future infrastructure acquisitions and power access negotiations. The addition of experienced partners like Kuban signifies that large firms are prioritizing faster deal execution to meet the urgent compute needs of tech providers.
The takeaway
The legal sector is increasingly positioning itself as a core component of the tech infrastructure supply chain. Hiring specialized talent allows firms to remain competitive as the technical requirements for powering artificial intelligence continue to evolve.
Further reading
Learn more about local industry developments in the Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Law.
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