Karunn Shahani

Karunn is a Principal Lawyer and the Managing Director of Thornton + King. He leads the firm’s strategy and brings specialist property and commercial expertise to complex legal matters. He is known for providing clear, practical advice and for approaching legal issues with a strong commercial focus, helping clients understand risk and make confident decisions.

As an investor and business owner, Karunn understands the commercial realities behind legal decisions. His approach is grounded in strategy, efficiency, and practical outcomes, rather than legal theory alone.

Karunn is an Accredited Specialist in Property Law, a designation awarded by the Law Society of New South Wales in recognition of advanced knowledge and expertise in this area. He also served for two years on the Law Society of New South Wales Property Law Committee, where he was involved in the review and development of property law practice, procedure and law reform. In addition, Karunn served for six years on the Executive Committee of the North Metropolitan Law Society.

Some of the recent matters Karunn has worked on include:

• Leading the collective negotiation and sale of multiple mixed-use properties comprising 15 separate residential, retail and commercial tenancies to a single property developer.

• Advising on the acquisition of a $50 million development site for a property developer, including contract negotiation and risk structuring.

• Acting for a property developer on the off-the-plan sale of 48 residential lots to individual purchasers.

• Negotiating and achieving a commercial settlement between property co-owners following the breakdown of their business relationship.

• Acting for a landlord in enforcing termination and eviction rights under a multi-million-dollar commercial lease.

• Successfully negotiating the termination of a disputed contract for the sale and purchase of land, avoiding the need for Supreme Court proceedings.

Accreditations and Associations

• Accredited Specialist in Property Law (NSW)

• Master of Applied Law (Commercial Litigation)

• Bachelor of Laws

• Bachelor of Media

• Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice

• Member of the Law Society of New South Wales

Publications

• Buying and selling a home at the same time – simultaneous settlements in NSW

• Rentvesting in Australia – what it really involves, and the legal issues people often miss

• Guide to Common Commercial Lease Clauses in NSW

  • What Are Make Good Obligations in Commercial Leases?

  • Assignment and Subletting in Commercial Leases: What Tenants Should Know

  • Options to Renew in Commercial Leases: Deadlines and Pitfalls

  • Rent Reviews in Commercial Leases: Fixed, CPI, and Market Rent

  • Insurance and Indemnities in Commercial Leases

• Buying a Business in NSW: Key Legal Steps Explained

  • Buying a Cafe in NSW

  • Buying a Rent Roll Business in NSW

  • Buying a Laundromat Business in NSW

  • Buying a Gym in NSW

• The Role of an Estate Litigation Lawyer in Protecting Your Inheritance

• What is a Loan Agreement and Why is it Important?

• A guide to Hornsby Conveyancing: Hornsby property specialists

• How to Make an Offer on a Property in 2025

• What’s The Process For Selling A Property?

• Business Succession Planning: What Strategy is Right for your Business

• What do Property Lawyers Do? Hiring a Good Real Estate Lawyer when Selling a Property

• A guide to Balmain Conveyancing: Local expertise for the competitive Balmain property market

• A Guide to the Property Settlement Process in NSW

• Buying a Property in Australia: Key Things to Consider

• Strata reports – an Essential part of due Diligence in Strata Conveyancing

• A Guide to Guarantor Loans and Guarantor Home Loans

• A Guide to Commercial Property Leases – What you need to know about Commercial Leases

• What is Conveyancing?

• Buying a House: A Guide to Reviewing Your Property Contract in NSW

• Cooling Off Periods in Property Purchases

• Legal Guide for Buying Property in Sydney, NSW

• Auction or Private Sale: What's the best way to sell a property in NSW?

• Contract of Sale: Buying or Selling a Property in NSW

• A Guide to Buying Commercial Property in NSW

• What is a Will? How to Write a Will and Testament in Australia