Reviewed by: Ed Buckland TEP

Those of us with long memories will recall the first ever edition of this work, which graced our shelves in 1992. It is quite remarkable then that some 30 years have passed and that now we have the 15th edition, still helmed by James Kessler KC TEP but with an extremely strong supporting cast of talented authors.

What changes have been made over the years? Well, we started with 11 chapters and now we have 35. We saw the introduction of a CD (remember them?) full of precedents. And now we have the option to read the book digitally on an e-reader.

Some things, however, remain the same. Those who remember the first volume will also remember the refreshingly straightforward and clear style championed by the book. They will remember the appropriate disdain held for those wordy clauses that many practitioners, let alone their clients, failed to follow. Who does not recall the extraordinarily helpful and detailed way that the reader was led through the various stages of a trust deed in order to help them (and so help the client) in the consideration of many drafting points?