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Shuonan Zhao
Partner
LLB; B.Ec (University of Sydney)
Admission: 2016
Shuonan is the head of practice of both the civil/commercial litigation, and family law teams in BQ Law. He focuses on litigations in the Federal Courts, State Courts of all levels, as well as administrative reviews of government decisions including but not limited to the Immigration Department, and the Tax Office. Shuonan has also independently appeared, advocated, and succeeded, in highly complex matters including in the NSW Court of Appeal.
Notable cases:
Zhou v Li [2026] NSWSC 258: complex commercial dispute involving misappropriation of funds, and interests in land arising from loans between family members
Paulsen & Paulsen (No 2) [2025] FedCFamC2F 7: complex parenting case involving allegations of family violence, and relocation of children
1826672 (Refugee) [2024] AATA 3263: complex migration merits review involving claims of violence and harm due to sexual orientation
Gan v Xie [2024] NSWDC 456: civil claim relating to pyramid scheme, deceptive and misleading conduct in trade and commerce
Gan v Xie [2023] NSWCA 163: appeal to the Court of Appeal overturning trial judge’s decisions, including credit finding, and proper delivery of evidence
In the matter of VO Group Australia Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 852: setting aside statutory demand
Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police v Peng [2022] QDC 211: highly complex matter involving the resistance of registration of Chinese Court Orders in the context of alleged political prosecution
Bei & Foong [2022] FedCFamC2F 655: re-commencement of time with young child after significant time of non-contact, and drug use
YIN (Migration) [2021] AATA 4959 – successfully overturned at the FCFCOA: successfully overturning Tribunal’s decision at judicial review on the bases of biasness and non-consideration of proper evidence
Zhou v Li [2021] NSWSC 527: extension of caveat, and caveatable interests through oral agreements
Huang v Union Standard International Group Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 400: inspection and access to key IT forensic evidence
May v Minister for Migration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs & Anor (2019): overturning, at judicial review, the Tribunal’s incorrect decision to accept the withdrawal of merits review application, when such withdrawal was not properly made
1707801 [2018] AATA: complex migration merits review of relating to exclusivity of romantic relationship
KHAN (Migration) [2017] AATA 1478 (23 August 2017): complex migration merits review of visa improperly cancelled