60 Seconds with Justin Wolfe

1. What attracted you to the data centre industry – and why now?

The data centre industry is a natural progression from my career across international telecoms, media and technology businesses. Data centres sit at the heart of the digital economy, bringing together technology, connectivity, infrastructure, energy, real estate, regulation and capital investment. It is also a sector at a crucial inflection point: AI and cloud are driving significant demand for capacity, while power availability, grid connections, planning, construction and sustainability are becoming increasingly important considerations. I have always gravitated towards businesses going through growth and transformation, and AtlasEdge gives me the opportunity to combine my TMT background with my experience in M&A, strategy, governance and regulation in a fast-moving and strategically important industry.

2. What role do data centres play in European digital sovereignty and resilience?

Data centres are an increasingly important part of Europe’s digital infrastructure. My experience across international TMT businesses has shown me just how dependent modern economies are on resilient connectivity and computing capacity. Digital sovereignty is not simply about where technology companies are headquartered or where data is stored; it also depends on having sufficient infrastructure in Europe, supported by resilient power, connectivity, security and supply chains. As demand for cloud and AI grows, data-centre operators have an important role to play in providing that physical infrastructure while addressing energy efficiency, sustainability, cybersecurity and operational resilience. AtlasEdge’s focus on developing capacity across a broader range of European markets is particularly relevant in helping create a more distributed infrastructure ecosystem to support Europe’s continued digital growth and competitiveness.

3. How can a General Counsel enable growth rather than simply manage risk?

I believe a General Counsel should be a business enabler as well as an effective steward of legal and regulatory risk. My approach is to understand the commercial objective first, and then help the business work out how to achieve it within an appropriate risk framework. At AtlasEdge, that means understanding the interdependencies between real estate, planning, power, construction, procurement, financing, customer contracting, regulation and technology rather than viewing legal issues in isolation. I have taken that approach throughout my career, helping businesses deliver transformational growth and important strategic and commercial objectives. For me, the GC’s role is to provide clarity, practical solutions and the confidence to move at pace while taking informed and appropriate risks.

4. What was it about AtlasEdge’s strategy and ambition that made you want to join?

Three things particularly attracted me to AtlasEdge: the market opportunity, the focus on the next wave of European markets and the stage of the company’s development. Demand for resilient digital infrastructure is growing rapidly, while the ability to deliver new capacity is becoming more complex. I was also attracted by AtlasEdge’s focus on markets where demand is emerging and where there is an opportunity to build meaningful scale, rather than simply following established data-centre models. Finally, much of my career has involved helping organisations navigate significant change, whether through new ownership, market expansion, major transactions, new operating models or stronger governance. AtlasEdge already has a strong foundation, but also significant ambitions for further growth, which creates a real opportunity for the General Counsel to contribute to how that next phase is delivered.

5. When you’re not immersed in legal, regulation and digital infrastructure, how do you spend your time?

Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my family and keeping active, particularly cycling and winter sports when conditions allow. With teenage children, family life tends to involve a fair amount of sport, and quite a lot of travelling to and from fixtures around London! I’m also a big music fan and love going to live gigs. I’m lucky to have some great venues close to home in North London and have accumulated a fairly impressive collection of indie-band T-shirts along the way.