Overview
Sebastien Bonneau focuses his practice on a unique blend of merger and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, joint ventures, real estate, and energy. He has particular experience in advising clients in the fast-growing data centre and digital infrastructure sector, having been active in this area since 2006. As a UK and France dual-qualified lawyer with more than two decades of experience, he brings hands-on knowledge of both jurisdictions and is well versed in handling transactions for clients based there.
In addition to advising clients within the data centre and digital infrastructure industry, he also advises entrepreneurs on their global development through growth and innovation, strategic M&A, fundraisings, and strategic partnerships with blue chips.
Prior to joining McDermott, Sebastien led the award-winning global data centre and digital infrastructure team of a top tier international law firm.
Results
His market-leading data center experience include the following representations:
- A group of syndicated lenders on a €140 million facility for the development of a data center in Ireland, for a total capacity of 16 megawatts*
- An investment fund on a £900 million joint venture with a leading data center owner and operator for the development of a data center in Germany, for a total capacity of 38 megawatts*
- An investment bank on its participation into a £600 million syndicated facility for the development of a data center in the UK, for a total capacity of 62 megawatts*
- A leading real estate developer on the structuring of build-to-suit products across Europe*
- A leading data centre owner and operator on the commercialisation of data center services in Amsterdam, opposite a hyperscaler, for a total capacity of 12 megawatts*
- A leading data centre owner and operator*:
- on the acquisition of real estate assets and the development of a data center in Amsterdam.
- on the acquisition of real estate assets and the development of a data center in Milan.
- A leading real estate developer on the structuring and development of their data center Joint Venture agreements across Europe*
- Advised a US listed company on a double data center sale and lease back transaction in France opposite DataOne, set to deliver 400MW of AI-compatible infrastructure, and become the largest data centre in Europe by 2028*
- A leading data centre owner and operator on the commercialisation of data center services in Europe*
- A leading data centre owner and operator on the commercialisation of data center services in Belgium*
- A leading data centre owner and operator on the acquisition of a real estate asset in Europe for the development of a data center campus*
- A leading data centre owner and operator on the commercialisation of data center services in France, Spain, and Italy, opposite a hyperscaler, for a total capacity of 24 megawatts*
- A leading data centre owner and operator on the M&A acquisition of a data centre campus in Europe, for a total capacity of 22.5 megawatts*
- A hyperscaler on a data center services agreement in Norway, for a total capacity of 260 megawatts*
- A hyperscaler on a data center services agreement in Ireland, for a total capacity of 32 megawatts*
- A leading data centre owner and operator on the commercialisation of data centre services in Sweden and Italy, opposite a hyperscaler*
- A hyperscaler on the negotiation of a security package – including SANDS/Direct agreements, in relation to a syndicated facility for the development of a data center in Ireland, for a total capacity of 32 megawatts*
- A leading data centre owner and operator on the commercialisation of data center services in France, and the negotiation of carrier access contracts*
- A leading data center owner and operator in Germany on project development of a data center facility*
- Several leading data centre owners and operators on the design of contractual documentation for their European activities, including for the largest European Data Center Campus*
Recognitions
- Legal 500 UK, Recommended, Private Equity: Transactions Mid-Market Deals, 2025
- Legal 500 UK, Recommended, London: Venture Capital, 2024
- Paris Bar, Pro Bono Award, 2021
- Leaders League Legal Awards, Recommended or Highly Recommended in M&A and Corporate Venture, 2019-2021
- Leaders League Legal Awards, Rising Star, 2013
Credentials
Education
HEC Paris, Executive MBA, 2012
Babson College, Innovative Management and Entrepreneurial Leadership, 2012
University of Paris V, MA, European Business Law, 2000
University of Pantheon-Sorbonne, LLM, Business Law, 1999
University of Pantheon-Sorbonne, BA, 1998
Admissions
England and Wales
Paris
Languages
English
French
Spanish
