Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP today announced that it has welcomed Partners Chelsea Pullen and Tam Ho to the Firm, where they will further support the Firm’s data center and digital infrastructure clients. Chelsea, an experienced digital infrastructure lawyer whose practice focuses on data center lease transactions, sits in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Tam, an infrastructure and real estate lawyer who has advised on some of the most significant joint ventures and equity financings in the data center space, is based in New York.
The hiring of Chelsea and Tam continues Simpson Thacher’s strong momentum across digital infrastructure. The Firm was ranked #1 globally in data center transactions by deal count in 2025 and #1 globally in data center transactions by volume for the last two years. It also received “Deal of the Year” in the Data Center, Tower and Fiber categories from TMT Finance Awards USA in 2025.
“Data centers and other digital infrastructure have become increasingly important to the business of our clients. Chelsea’s understanding of the market for data center leases and Tam’s experience advising major operators, developers and investors on high-value joint ventures enhances our ability to deliver end-to-end service across the full spectrum of data center transactions,” said Sas Mehrara, Head of the Firm’s Real Estate Practice. “We are excited to welcome Chelsea and Tam, and to continue to expand our market-leading presence in this rapidly growing sector.”
Chelsea sits in the Firm’s Real Estate Practice and advises clients, including data center operators and developers, private equity firms, infrastructure funds and real estate investors, on virtually all aspects of their leasing needs as well as across all stages of operations, from early inception to large-scale global platforms. In addition to data center leasing and development, she has experience with an array of other digital infrastructure leasing, including dark fiber, cell towers, rooftops, subsea cable systems and DAS and WiFi system builds.
Tam, a partner in both the Energy and Infrastructure and Real Estate Practices, represents private equity funds, sponsors, developers and other investors. With a particular focus on data centers and digital infrastructure, he advises clients on complex joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, preferred equity investments and other real estate transactions.
“Chelsea and Tam both bring strong track records in delivering practical, business-oriented solutions to clients. Their market insight and technical expertise will be invaluable as data center development continues to drive major investment decisions,” said Eli Hunt, Co-Head of the Firm’s Energy and Infrastructure Practice. “I look forward to working with them as we help clients increase their footprints in the digital infrastructure sector.”
“Digital infrastructure offers investors an incredible ecosystem of opportunity, and Simpson Thacher is unmatched in guiding clients across the entire space,” said Chelsea. “I am delighted to join their industry-leading team and look forward to helping the world’s leading data center developers and digital infrastructure investors in this fast-moving and exciting sector.”
“In this pivotal moment for data centers, I am excited to join Simpson Thacher, a firm at the forefront of the sector,” said Tam. “I look forward to contributing to the Firm’s energy and infrastructure and real estate teams’ continued growth and to helping clients across all of digital infrastructure achieve their goals.”
Clients turn to Simpson Thacher’s Real Estate and Energy and Infrastructure teams for advice on their most complex and significant matters. Since 2018, the team has advised on over $500 billion in data center transactions. Our lawyers are well-versed in public and private mergers, acquisitions and financings, real estate leasing and development, joint ventures, recapitalizations and debt restructurings and workouts. We have represented parties on all sides of historic and innovative real estate, energy and infrastructure transactions, supporting clients throughout the lifecycle of a business: from formation and corporate structuring to project and asset development, financing, acquisition and exit.
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