Linda Huan
Special Counsel

Linda is a highly skilled corporate lawyer with more than 16 years’ experience advising on complex commercial transactions and corporate structuring matters for both Australian and international clients.  

Linda is a native Mandarin speaker (and a NAATI certified translator), having immigrated from China to Australia more than 20 years ago. Her international practice centres on Asia, where she has assisted various Chinese state-owned enterprises and private companies with their investments into the Australia market. Her expertise encompasses mergers and acquisitions, corporate advisory and general commercial matters, and she is particularly proficient in supporting clients to successfully navigate the Foreign Investment Review Board approvals process. 

Possessing a deep understanding of Chinese business culture and policy approach, combined with her extensive experience of the Australian legal framework, Linda is uniquely placed to guide her Asia-based clients in achieving their commercial aims. Her industry experience spans natural resources, agribusiness, manufacturing, property development, hospitality and retail.  

Linda is dedicated to assisting her clients to achieve their commercial objectives. 

Examples of matters Linda has worked on over the course of her career include: 

  • Advising the Australian arm of a leading Chinese manufacturer on:
    • various corporate and commercial matters in connection with its business operation in Australia, including share restructuring and FIRB approval, commercial contracts review and advice, and competition law advice, and 
    • share transactions and assets restructuring in connection with its investments in Australia, including assets sale amongst the overseas entities, FIRB approval, and stamp duty issues, and reviewing and advising on legal documentation.
  • Advising a private hotel and tourism operator regarding its acquisition of a commercial building in the Melbourne CBD. This included performing legal due diligence, negotiating and finalising legal documentation, advising on the most appropriate corporate/trust holding structure, and preparation of shareholders advice for co-investors.
  • Advising a private hotel owner and operator regarding its multi-million sale of a heritage listed hotel situated in the Yarra Valley, including drafting and negotiating land and business sale agreements, advising on all aspects of the sale transactions and assisting with completion matters.
  • Advising an energy provider and its related entities in relation to general operational matters, and Australian corporate and regulatory compliance.
  • Advised a leading dairy and nutrition products provider (and its related entities in Australia) in relation to its Australian business operations, including advising on commercial contracts, distribution agreements and employment related issues.
  • Advising a Chinese private investor on their acquisition of a controlling interest in a Victorian winery business (including agricultural land). This included advising on FIRB regulatory compliance relating to agricultural land acquisition, and preparation and submission of FIRB applications.
  • Advising a Chinese private investor on the sale of their 50% interest in a landholding company with commercial building in the Melbourne CBD. This included the preparation and negotiation of the share sale agreement and ancillary documentation, advising on issues relating to land tax, directors’ duties and shareholders’ rights and remedies, and assisting with completion matters.
  • Advised the Australian entity of a Chinese-based coal company in relation to corporate governance and shareholders rights and remedies. 
  • Advising a Chinese state-owned enterprise on its acquisition of a substantial interest in an Australian mineral resources company. This included advising its Australian investment entity on matters relating to tenements management and commercial contracts relating to its ongoing business operations in Australia.
  • Advising a Chinese-based resources company regarding its proposed acquisition of an interest in an ASX listed resources company. This involved obtaining FIRB approval, providing ongoing advice in relation to overlapping tenement issues in Queensland, corporate restructuring and other matters relating to the company’s operations in the Australian coal sector.  
  • Advised a Chinese state-owned enterprise in relation to a proposed acquisition in the Australian agribusiness sector, including preparation of an FIRB submission and obtaining FIRB approval.

Recognition

Linda was named a finalist in the Special Counsel of the Year category of both the Australian Law Awards 2024 and also the Women in Law Awards 2024, both facilitated by Lawyers Weekly. Linda was also a finalist in these categories in 2023.