Morgan Lewis Strengthens National Real Estate and Market-Leading Data Center Capabilities with Two-Partner Team

CHICAGO and SEATTLE, March 10, 2026: Morgan Lewis continues to deepen its national real estate platform and build on its position as a global leader in data center development, investment, and operations with the arrival of partners Nathan Fahrer and Valerie Johnston from Perkins Coie. Nathan, resident in Seattle, and Val, resident in Chicago, focus on sophisticated real estate transactions nationwide spanning acquisition, development, financing, and operations across asset classes, with significant experience in the data center sector.

“Across traditional real estate and the rapidly evolving data center space, clients are navigating capital markets volatility, supply constraints, complex leasing dynamics, and escalating infrastructure demands,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “Nathan and Val bring a powerful combination of transactional depth, market insight, and industry fluency that supports clients as they move decisively in this environment, whether executing core real estate strategies or implementing mission-critical data center projects.”

Nathan advises on buying, selling, financing, developing, and leasing real property across the United States, with notable experience leading major data center acquisitions, developments, and leases, including colocation arrangements. He will collaborate with Morgan Lewis’s strong power, finance, and telecommunications teams to address the complex infrastructure, energy, and connectivity issues inherent in large-scale data center projects. Nathan also represents commercial landlords and tenants in office, retail, and industrial leasing, including confidential ground leasing matters, and counsels high-growth technology and internet clients on nationwide commercial leases. His experience includes work with CMBS special servicers on real property-secured loan workouts and real estate-owned dispositions, and he handles real estate-related bankruptcy matters.

Val advises on all aspects of commercial real estate, with a strong focus on the acquisition, disposition, development, and financing of both vacant and developed assets. She structures and negotiates management agreements, purchase agreements, loan documents, leases and lease amendments, colocation agreements, and construction contracts across asset classes, with a particular focus on data centers and hotels. Val also provides general business advice to developers, connects clients with project and capital opportunities, and is experienced with CMBS leasing and special financing options from both borrower and lender perspectives, including NMTC and PACE financing.

“Nathan’s experience guiding complex real estate and data center projects, together with Val’s strengths in development, construction, and specialty financing, enhances our ability to deliver fully integrated real estate solutions and support clients across the full lifecycle of data center projects nationwide,” said Christina Melendi, leader of the firm’s corporate and business transactions practice. “Their shared client relationships and collaborative approach further strengthen our data center and broader real estate offerings across key markets, including Chicago, Seattle, and Northern California.”