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RICS & CLA Real Property Law Section Conference: Data Centers, Energy & Digital Expansion

Name: RICS & CLA Real Property Law Section Conference: Data Centers, Energy & Digital Expansion
Location: RICS & CLA Real Property Law Section Conference: Data Centers, Energy & Digital Expansion

Thu 12 Nov 2026 • 09:00 - 18:00 PST • 7 hours structured CPD

Continuing Professional Development for RICS members

City Club, San Francisco, CA

In-Person

From $295

Overview

As demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data storage accelerates, data centers have emerged as one of the most complex and strategically important asset classes in the built environment. This program provides a comprehensive, end-to-end view of the sector, combining legal, regulatory, commercial, and technical perspectives.

This one-day conference explores the full life cycle of data center development and operation. Sessions will unpack how these facilities are planned and designed, financed, and delivered, and will provide deeper insights into the impacts that such projects are having on our communities.

Time	Session
08:00 AM – 09:00 AM	Registration and Breakfast
09:00 AM – 09:10 AM	Welcome
09:10 AM – 09:30 AM	Opening Keynote – A Site Is Not a Project: Rethinking Data Center Development in the Age of Power Constraints Data center development is increasingly being evaluated through a traditional real estate lens: find land, identify power, establish value, and assume a project exists. But land and theoretical power availability do not make a project deliverable. This keynote will examine why successful data center development increasingly requires a constraints-first approach. Using the PACTS framework, we will look at how power, approvals, connectivity, thermal requirements, and schedule must align before a site becomes a viable project. The discussion will connect these constraints to development risk, valuation, investment decisions, and public acceptance, providing the audience with a practical way to understand evaluate opportunities in a rapidly changing infrastructure market. Suhail Tayeb, Clinical Assistant Professor, Schack Institute of Real Estate at the NYU School of Professional Studies
09:30 AM – 10:30 AM	Session 1 - The Anatomy of a Data Center: From Site Selection to Commissioning Data centers are among the most complex developments in the modern digital economy. This session provides a practical overview of the development process, from site selection and land use considerations to design, construction, and commissioning. Speakers will examine infrastructure requirements such as connectivity, cooling systems, and redundancy, as well as permitting and regulatory considerations. The program will help lawyers and other professionals working in the built environment better understand how these specialized facilities are planned, financed, and brought into operation. David Hudd, National Discipline Leader Cost & Commercial Management Services, Arcadis USA Peter Smith, RICS Executive Boad
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM	Networking Break
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Session 2 - Capitalizing the Cloud: Investing in and Valuing Data Centers As AI and cloud demand accelerate data center development, investors face complex decisions about capital, deal structures, and risk. This session explores how developers, investors, and lenders finance and underwrite projects, structure acquisitions and joint ventures, and evaluate returns. Speakers will also examine valuation challenges—including power availability, tenant concentration, specialized infrastructure, technological obsolescence, and uncertain future demand. Gabrielle Stevenson, Economic Development Guide, Go-Biz - State of California Stephanie Yarbrough, Partner, DLA Piper - New York
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM	Networking Lunch
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM	Session 3 - Data Centers and Energy Law: Grid Access, Power Purchase Agreements, and Sustainability Reliable and affordable power is essential to the operation of modern data centers. This session explores legal and regulatory issues related to grid access, energy procurement, and long-term power purchase agreements. Speakers will examine how developers and operators address increasing energy demand while navigating renewable energy requirements and sustainability goals. The discussion will also consider how grid capacity, environmental regulation, and energy policy are influencing where data centers can be developed. Laila Paszti, Technology Transactions and Privacy Partner, Polsinelli Sanjay Ranchod, Chief Counsel, California Energy Commission (CEC)
02:00 PM – 03:00 PM	Session 4 - Risk Allocation in Data Center Construction and Operations: Insurance, Liability, and Disputes Data centers involve significant operational and construction risks due to their technical complexity and the critical services they support. This session explores how risk is allocated among developers, contractors, operators, and tenants through contractual provisions and insurance structures. Speakers will discuss issues such as construction delays, system failures, cybersecurity exposure, and business interruption risks. The program will also address dispute resolution strategies in high-value digital infrastructure projects.
03:00 PM – 3:15 PM	Networking Break
03:15 PM – 04:15 PM	Session 5 - Terrestrial to Extraterrestrial: Rethinking Data Center Locations for a Digital Future Rapid advances in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and edge technologies are transforming the scale and location of data infrastructure. This session examines how these technological shifts are reshaping the development of data centers worldwide. Speakers will explore emerging trends including hyperscale facilities, edge networks, and new locations, (on earth and beyond) driven by power availability and climate considerations. The discussion will highlight the legal and infrastructure challenges shaping the next generation of digital development. Neil Axler, Managing Director, EisnerAmper Camisha Simmons, Founder and Managing Member, Simmons Legal - Dallas
04:15 PM – 04:30 PM	Closing Remarks
04:30 PM – 07:00 PM	Networking Reception

Suhail Tayeb

Clinical Assistant Professor, Schack Institute of Real Estate at the NYU School of Professional Studies

Suhail Y Tayeb is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Schack Institute of Real Estate at the NYU School of Professional Studies. He is a real estate developer, investor, and educator with more than twenty years of experience across residential and commercial real estate. His current work focuses on the real estate and infrastructure required to support the growth of AI and data centers. He examines how power, land, capital, regulation, and community considerations shape infrastructure development and investment decisions. His broader work includes sustainable real estate, urban economics, ESG, and the adaptation and repurposing of the built environment. At NYU, Tayeb chairs the Annual Conference on Sustainable Real Estate and the Data Center & AI Infrastructure Forum. His research has received university and NSF-supported funding. His academic work has examined transparency in sector-specific sustainability metrics. He has also studied the use of AI and flipped-classroom models in real estate education. Tayeb writes and speaks on real estate, sustainability, data centers, and AI infrastructure. He is a contributor to Commercial Observer, where his recent work examines the development, energy, regulatory, and community challenges surrounding data center growth. He regularly participates in industry conferences and academic forums as a keynote speaker, panelist, and moderator. He has also served as a guest lecturer at London Business School. Tayeb is the author of several books on real estate, cities, sustainability, and AI infrastructure. His recent titles include Cities Are Choices, Sustainability as the Operating System, What We Choose to Build, The Real Economics of Section 8, and From Hype to Hard Assets: 2025 Essays on AI Infrastructure, Power, and Place. He holds a Master’s in Leadership and Strategy as a Sloan Fellow from London Business School and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Neil Axler

Managing Director, EisnerAmper

With 30 years of valuation consulting experience in individual assets and portfolios of income-producing commercial and industrial properties, Mr. Axler currently leads the National Real Estate Valuation Practice for Eisner Advisory Group, LLP. Responsibilities include business development, management and execution of real estate valuation consulting assignments. Current projects include valuations for financial reporting; trust and estate purposes; federal government agencies; special servicers; tax appeals; litigation support; bankruptcy and restructuring. Mr. Axler’s appraisal assignments have included highest and best use / feasibility studies, appraisals of data centers, major office buildings, multi-family residential, regional shopping centers, industrial facilities, warehouses, hotels, subdivision land, data centers, golf courses, and complex mixed-use valuations. Mr. Axler has recent experience estimating lost profits, economic damages, and lost real estate value on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. Mr. Axler has extensive real estate valuation experience with trust and estate issues and financial reporting. He has inspected and managed assignments in most metropolitan areas in the U.S. and the U.S. Territories. His international experience included appraising numerous commercial property types in Australia, China, South Korea, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, Ukraine, Norway, New Zealand, Denmark, Jordan, Lebanon, Canada and Mexico. Collateral experience includes transaction advisory, acquisition and financing due diligence, land use and marketability studies, appraisal review and concurrence, and project financial feasibility. Mr. Axler has broad experience with cash flow modeling and analytical model reviews utilizing Argus Enterprise and Excel. Throughout his career, Mr. Axler has had significant portfolio and underwriting modeling experience for numerous large projects. Additionally, Mr. Axler has focused on federal and state government consulting and has first-hand knowledge of the economic, financial and market factors that drive the development of public real estate policy.

Camisha Simmons

Founder and Managing Member, Simmons Legal - Dallas

Camisha L. Simmons is a business and commercial space law attorney based in Dallas, Texas. She is a frequent writer and speaker on cutting-edge legal topics that impact businesses. She has spoken and provided commentary at prominent space conferences in the U.S. and across the globe, on space business topics, including property rights in space. She is licensed to practice law in both Texas and New York. She has received numerous recognitions, including, but not limited to, recognition in the most recent editions of The Best Lawyers in America®, D Magazine’s list of Best Lawyers in Dallas, and Texas Super Lawyers and New York Metro Super Lawyers by Super Lawyers®. She holds a J.D., magna cum laude and an M.B.A. from Texas Tech University, an M.Ed. from the University of Maryland, College Park and a B.B.A. from Campbell University. Prior to her legal career, she served on active duty in the United States Army.

David Hudd

National Discipline Leader Cost & Commercial Management Services , Arcadis USA

David has more than 30 years of experience in the building profession, working with cost management consultancies in the US and Europe. He brings significant expertise in the technology sector and other complex project types. With an engineering background, his experience includes functional component cost analysis, cost planning through all design stages, change management and evaluation, and post-contract cost control. He has led projects across a wide range of sectors, with expertise spanning building, structural, mechanical, and electrical disciplines. Before joining Arcadis, David managed teams at other large consulting firms, delivering comprehensive cost planning and management services from project inception through construction completion. He is an advocate and facilitator of integrated design.

Peter Smith FRICS

Executive Board, RICS

Peter M. Smith, FRICS, has over 40 years of experience in the property tax and commercial property fields in the US, serving commercial clients in both real property and personal (fixed assets) property tax engagements. He has represented national and international clients with a wide array of property types including land, industrial, office, automotive, hotel, multi-family and low-income housing, sports venues, resort properties, golf courses, telecommunication companies, retail, and commercial aircraft. In his former capacity as the Ernst & Young (“EY”) West Region Director of property tax, he worked exclusively in the ad valorem tax area providing consulting and compliance services for clients in both real estate and personal property. He advised the Ministry of Housing of a large Middle Eastern country on the establishment and operation of a property tax system for undeveloped residential ‘white land’ in that country. He served as a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors [London, UK] (“RICS”) Governing Council in the US Market Seat between 2013 and 2019. He acted as Chair of the RICS Americas World Regional Board for 6 years ending in 2019. Peter assumed the role of Chair of the CPD Framework Steering Group whose remit was completed in December 2024 reporting directly to the Standard and Regulations Board during 2023 and 2024. He is now Lead Assessor, Valuation for the Americas for RICS. Peter was an EY Executive Director and part of the property tax services leadership team, Peter ran the West Region property tax practice at EY. He was a President, Past President and an Executive Board Member of the National Council of Property Taxation in the US representing property tax professionals and companies operating in that profession in local and national jurisdictions.

Stephanie Yarbrough

Partner, DLA Piper - New York

Stephanie Yarbrough focuses her practice on advising domestic and international companies seeking to expand or relocate in the US, helping her clients navigate relationships with local and state governmental leadership and decision makers. She advises companies in various industries, including corporate headquarters, manufacturing, data centers, distribution, and large offices, and she has extensive experience in the automotive, life sciences, and aviation sectors. Stephanie works with new and expanding businesses in identifying and negotiating all aspects of a discretionary incentive package, advocating before the proper governmental entities during all phases of the incentive approval process. She negotiates and structures large incentive packages on behalf of global companies daily. Stephanie also advises clients in general tax and corporate matters, her deep experience in public company mergers and acquisitions positioning her to run some of the largest deals in the country. Her efforts on behalf of clients have led to the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in capital investment. Additionally, Stephanie is brought in regularly by leading consulting firms and other law firms as counsel on economic development deals where her knowledge and tenacity can be critical to getting deals done. She regularly counsels companies on all aspects of the deal – incentives, tax, real estate, corporate, construction, intellectual property (IP)/patent, litigation, employment, immigration, environmental, and land use/planning/zoning. Her legal work often involves foreign-based companies and is evenly split between landlord/developer representation and tenant/end user representation.

Gabrielle Stevenson

Economic Development Guide, Go-Biz - State of California

Gabrielle Stevenson is the Associate Deputy Director for the Regional Business Development team for the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development’s CalBIS team. Stevenson first joined State service with IBank in 2019 and then spent three years with the State Treasurer’s Office supporting the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), green financing programs and supervising the Development teams at the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee. Upon returning to GO-Biz, Stevenson spent two years on the Energy Unit, before joining CalBIS. Stevenson has worked on brand launches, national campaigns and niche marketing efforts to increase visibility, awareness, sales and more in both the private and public sectors. Highly adept at managing people and programs, developing communications, marketing and other strategic plans, Stevenson has worked with major organizations such as Harley-Davidson as well as nonprofits including United Way. Stevenson started out as a sportswriter for Bay Area newspapers before working in media relations and communications in motorsports prior to taking on sports facilities management roles in Texas and California.

Laila Paszti

Technology Transactions and Privacy Partner, Polsinelli

Laila Paszti advises developers, operators, and customers on the commercial, infrastructure, and energy arrangements supporting data center development and operations. Laila’s experience includes negotiating colocation and infrastructure agreements, including matters involving capacity, operational responsibilities, service levels, and the allocation of commercial and operational risk. She also advises on the power arrangements critical to data center projects, including interconnection and energy service agreements, large-load studies, utility tariffs, and risk management. Prior to practicing law, Laila worked as a machine learning engineer and in process control at ExxonMobil, providing her with a technical and operational perspective on complex infrastructure, automation, and technology systems. This combination of commercial and technical experience informs her practical approach to the agreements governing the development and operation of data center infrastructure.

Sanjay Ranchod

Chief Counsel, California Energy Commission (CEC)

Sanjay Ranchod is the Chief Counsel for the California Energy Commission (CEC), where he leads the agency’s legal team. He has more than a decade of experience in legal and policy leadership roles at clean energy companies, including SolarCity, Tesla and, most recently, Renew Home, where he was the chief legal officer. Ranchod previously represented large-scale renewable energy project developers and other businesses as an attorney at the Paul Hastings law firm. He began his legal career working on complex litigation matters and served as a law clerk to U.S District Judge Jeremy Fogel. Ranchod was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, where he served as a commissioner for seven years. He received a JD from Stanford Law School and graduated magna cum laude from Brown University.

In partnership with

Real Property Law California Lawyers Association

Conference sponsors

Bronze Sponsor

Turton Bond

Bronze Sponsor

MACE

Price summary

F2F Member early bird

USD $295

F2F Member standard

USD $355

F2F Non-member early bird

USD $395

F2F Non-member standard

USD $455

Student tickets are available at a discounted price. Please contact us at events@ricsamericas.org for student discount codes.

Hotel Discounts

The Orchard Garden Hotel

Special rate: $155/night
Valid for stays on November 11–12, 2026
Book by October 1, 2026
Group Code: ROYAL261112-181018 (select Group Code when booking)
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Club Quarters Hotel, Embarcadero

Special rate: $189/night (Club Room, Queen Bed; maximum 2 guests)
Valid for stays on November 11–12, 2026
Book by October 11, 2026
Group Code: 2611LZWESQ (select Group Code when booking)
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Omni San Francisco

Single/Double: $309/night
Triple: $329/night
Quad: $349/night
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Book by October 30, 2026 (17:00 PM)
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San Francisco Palace Hotel

5% discount off the best available rate when you enroll in the Business Access by Marriott program. Note: It takes a few days for your account to register
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RICS & CLA Real Property Law Section Conference: Data Centers, Energy & Digital Expansion