Linda Evans

Regional Head of Practice – Competition, Regulation and Trade, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Linda is a leading competition and regulatory lawyer with particular expertise in contentious matters, complex mergers and third party access.

Linda is known for her ability to see the big picture and work out a strategic pathway to the desired result. She seamlessly combines her knowledge of legal, policy and economic issues to deliver innovative yet practical solutions for clients. This has seen her retained on some of the most challenging merger and regulatory matters, particularly those in highly regulated sectors such as transport, telecommunications and energy.

Linda’s practice extends across the full spectrum of competition matters including complex market leading merger clearances, cartel investigations and immunity applications, structuring and advising on joint ventures, access to and regulation of major infrastructure and advising on high-profile class action cases.

Background

Linda graduated from the University of Western Australia. Before joining Herbert Smith Freehills in 2021, Linda was a partner at another top tier Australian firm.

Linda was a councillor of the National Competition Council from 2013 – 2017 and is currently co-chair of the Editorial Board of Competition Law International.

Market Recognition

Linda is recognised as a leading individual for Competition/Antitrust by the legal directories Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, IFLR1000, Doyle’s and Best Lawyers Australia.

Clients regard Linda Evans as a "careful, excellent tactician who is not afraid of a fight".

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

Pacific National, as their long-time key adviser, on a range of transactions including the $9bn demerger of Asciano to a consortium, and Pacific National’s acquisition of the Acacia Ridge terminal in Brisbane from Aurizon, which the ACCC contested and lost in the High Court of Australia
Vodafone Group plc on its merger with Hutchison to form VHA and for both Vodafone Group and VHA on VHA’s merger with TPG including the Federal Court proceedings against the ACCC
Seven West Media on a range of competition matters including its sale of Pacific Magazines to Bauer Media, its proposed acquisition of Prime Television, its merger with WA Newspaper, its acquisition of a further shareholding in TXA and its acquisition of shares in Foxtel’s Presto
A major international bank on an international investigation relating to competition and regulatory matters in the FX industry
Origin Energy on a range of competition and consumer law enforcement matters.
HydroTasmania on its access to gas transport services via the Tasmanian Gas Pipeline including the first arbitration under the National Gas Rules for the determination of the terms and conditions of access to the pipeline