Professor Emeritus Peter Butt
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Professor Emeritus Peter Butt

Peter Butt holds the degrees of BA, LLB, LLM, and LLD, from Sydney University. He is an Emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Sydney. His main teaching and research areas are land law, native title, and legal drafting. He has been a visiting professor at a number of overseas universities, including Cambridge, Bristol, Nottingham, and Vanderbilt (USA). In 2001 he was the Inns of Court Fellow at the Inner Temple (London). He co-founded the Law Foundation Centre for Plain Legal Language at the University of Sydney, and was for a number of years the Chair of Clarity (an international plain-language organisation, with a mandate to improve the way that lawyers write). In 2009 he was awarded the Plain Language Association International Award for outstanding contributions to plain language.

Peter has served as a consultant to a number of governments and related bodies on aspects of land law and land rights. They include: the Commonwealth Government on the Native Title Act; the New South Wales Government on aspects of property and conveyancing law; and the governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan on a self-government treaty for the Meadow Lake First Nations. Peter has also drafted land laws and land registration legislation for a number of overseas jurisdictions, including Mongolia, Uganda and Dubai.

Peter was joint editor of the inaugural edition of The Australian Legal Dictionary (Butterworths). He has also written books on land law, conveyancing, the Torrens system of land registration, Australian native title, the rule against perpetuities, legal writing, and legal drafting. He was for 30 years the editor and chief contributor to the ‘Property and Conveyancing’ section of the Australian Law Journal.

He has presented seminars on property law and legal drafting to students, academics and legal professionals in many countries. They include Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, Malta, Canada, the United States of America, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Selected publications

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Publications

Books

  • Butt, P. (2021). Modern Legal Drafting: A Guide to Using Clearer Language - 3rd Edition. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
  • Butt, P. (2021). The Lawyer's Style Guide: A Student and Practitioner Guide. Oxford, United Kingdom: Hart Publishing.
  • Butt, P. (2018). Legal Usage: A Modern Style Guide. Sydney, NSW: LexisNexis.

Edited Books

  • Butt, P., Hamer, D. (2011). LexisNexis Concise Australian Legal Dictionary (4th edition). Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.

Book Chapters

  • Butt, P. (2010). Indefeasibility and All Advanced Mortgages: Are they a thing of the past? Part 2 - The Recent Cases: Some thoughts on mortgages and the covenants to pay. In Gregory Burton SC, Prudence Weaver, Gerard Breen, Alan Tyree (Eds.), Law Relating to Banker and Customer in Australia, (pp. 10501-10506). Australia: Lawbook Co.
  • Butt, P. (2010). Release 50. In P Butt (Eds.), Woodman & Nettle, the Torrens System in New South Wales. North Ryde, N.S.W.: LBC Information Services.
  • Butt, P. (2009). Release 46. In P Butt (Eds.), Woodman & Nettle, the Torrens System in New South Wales. North Ryde, N.S.W.: LBC Information Services.

Journals

  • Butt, P. (2010). Can a Mortgagee Sell a Mortgagor's Home? Silence is Dangerous; A Leases Smorgasborg. Australian Law Journal, 84, 359-362.
  • Butt, P. (2010). Caveats and Rights of Prior Mortgages. Australian Law Journal, 84, 77-78.
  • Butt, P. (2010). How Far Down Do You Own? The Final Word. Australian Law Journal, 84, 746-747.

Conferences

  • Butt, P. (2002). The Assumptions behind Plain Legal Language. At the Heart of Communication: 4th Biennial conference (2002), Toronto, Canada: Plain Language Association InterNational (PLAIN).

2021

  • Butt, P. (2021). Modern Legal Drafting: A Guide to Using Clearer Language - 3rd Edition. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
  • Butt, P. (2021). The Lawyer's Style Guide: A Student and Practitioner Guide. Oxford, United Kingdom: Hart Publishing.

2018

  • Butt, P. (2018). Legal Usage: A Modern Style Guide. Sydney, NSW: LexisNexis.

2017

  • Edgeworth, B., Butt, P. (2017). Butt's Land Law - 7th edition. Sydney, NSW: Thomson Reuters.

2011

  • Butt, P., Hamer, D. (2011). LexisNexis Concise Australian Legal Dictionary (4th edition). Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.

2010

  • Butt, P. (2010). Can a Mortgagee Sell a Mortgagor's Home? Silence is Dangerous; A Leases Smorgasborg. Australian Law Journal, 84, 359-362.
  • Butt, P. (2010). Caveats and Rights of Prior Mortgages. Australian Law Journal, 84, 77-78.
  • Butt, P. (2010). How Far Down Do You Own? The Final Word. Australian Law Journal, 84, 746-747.

2009

  • Butt, P. (2009). Adverse Possession: No Confirmation by 'Without Prejudice' Offer to Purchase; Unreasonable to Require Security Beyond Duration of Assignee's Interest. Australian Law Journal, 83(7), 439-440.
  • Butt, P. (2009). Beware What You Undertake; What is a Claim? When is a Date Specified? Ouster of Co-Owner. Australian Law Journal, 83(11), 719-721.
  • Butt, P. (2009). Breach of Covenant Against Alterations; Tabcorp v Bowen in the High Court; No Obligation to Re-instate at Landlord's Whim; Landlord Stopped from Emforcing Breach; Landlord's Right of Inspection not Authorising Environmental Audit. Australian Law Journal, 83(6), 365-368.

2008

  • Butt, P. (2008). Easements, extinguishment; Easements of necessity; Easement to park a vehicle permanently; Easement to store boat on strata lot. Australian Law Journal, 82(3), 154-158.
  • Butt, P. (2008). Editorial postscript. Australian Law Journal, 82(7), 438-439.
  • Butt, P. (2008). Fraud by Bank's agent infects registered mortgage; Fraud in proceeding to registration; When is a licence an interest in land?; Damages for Breach of covenant against altering premises without landlord's consent. Australian Law Journal, 82(8), 511-515.

2007

  • Butt, P. (2007). Conveyancing and Property ("Knowing receipt of trust property" as an exception to undefeasibility ; The limits of indefeasibility: Mortgage not securing obligations under forged loan document). Australian Law Journal, 81(9), 713-715.
  • Butt, P. (2007). Conveyancing and Property (Deposit Returned after Disputed Rescission). Australian Law Journal, 81(4), 227-228.
  • Butt, P. (2007). Conveyancing and Property (Easement to park in garage ; Adding properties to an easement ; Indefeasibility for what?). Australian Law Journal, 81(12), 914-917.

2006

  • Butt, P. (2006). Conveyancing and property ("Split deposits" and penalties; No right to rescind for "miscalculation" of area; Caveats: balance of convenience; Caveats: undertaking as to damages; Rights to underground water.). Australian Law Journal, 80(6), 347-350.
  • Butt, P. (2006). Conveyancing and property (Beware the conveyancing clerk; Thrust and parry; Rent review: "subjective" or "objective" valuation?). Australian Law Journal, 80(11), 715-718.
  • Butt, P. (2006). Conveyancing and property (Deeds poll and covenants enforceable at the suit of a non-party; Writs of execution; No set-off against purchaser of reversion.). Australian Law Journal, 80(10), 639-642.

2005

  • Butt, P. (2005). Conveyancing and property (Waiver of benefit of condition; Waiver, election and non-promisory conditions; Caveats "without reasonable cause"). Australian Law Journal, 79, 18-21.
  • Butt, P. (2005). Death of a party before registration; Photographic wills. Australian Law Journal, 79, 540-542.
  • Butt, P. (2005). Deeds - retrospective effect; Indentifying the "date of this deed"; Time not of the essence for purchase under testamentary option; It's too late to change your mind. Australian Law Journal, 79, 411-412.

2004

  • Butt, P. (2004). Adverse possession. Australian Law Journal, 78, 775-777.
  • Butt, P. (2004). Easements by prescription and 'illegal use'; Easements by prescription in the Torrens system; Prescriptive easements - extent of permissible use. Australian Law Journal, 78, 700-703.
  • Butt, P. (2004). Enforcement of put options; Who moved the stones?; Damages for nasty neighbours. Australian Law Journal, 78, 86-89.

2003

  • Butt, P. (2003). "Proposals" affecting land; Obligation to repair common roof; Torrens easement not capable of abandonment; Landlord's liability in negligence. Australian Law Journal, 77, 787-791.
  • Butt, P. (2003). Assignment of lease and related issues; "Floor area" of retail premises; Ineffective notice of rescission effective as notice to complete. Australian Law Journal, 77, 481-484.
  • Butt, P. (2003). Conveyancing and property (Damages for incorrect answers to requisitions; Waiving benefit of condition; How many houses can you build?). Australian Law Journal, 77, 637-640.

2002

  • Butt, P. (2002). Conveyancing and property (Death of contracting party; When is an easement abandoned?; Demolition of building in breach of covenant; Mortgagor entitled to have second mortgage registered; Termination of permissive occupancies; Caveatable interest. Australian Law Journal, 76, 477-481.
  • Butt, P. (2002). Conveyancing and property (Mere equities and equitable interests; Severing illegal part of lease). Australian Law Journal, 76, 535-538.
  • Butt, P. (2002). Conveyancing practice and the law of subdivisions; Purchaser relieved against loss of contract. Australian Law Journal, 76, 346-350.

2001

  • Butt, P. (2001). Co-owners' rights to title deeds; Severance of joint tenancy; Agreement not to sever joint tenancy; Effect of failure to appoint valuer 'promptly'. Australian Law Journal, 75, 6-8.
  • Butt, P. (2001). Conveyancing and Property. Australian Law Journal, Various(Various), Various-Various.
  • Butt, P. (2001). Deed binding despite invalid attestation; Duty to weatherproof neighbour's wall. Australian Law Journal, 75, 530-531.

2000

  • Butt, P. (2000). Can a joint tenant assign another joint tenant? When is a lease surrendered? Effect of surrender on sub-lease; Absurd rent review. Australian Law Journal, 74, 496-499.
  • Butt, P. (2000). Continuing obligation to use best endeavours; Misinterpretation not excused by contractual provision; Equitable priorities; Covenant for quiet enjoyment and tenants' noise - the final word? Australian Law Journal, 74, 351-355.
  • Butt, P. (2000). False attestations and fraud. Australian Law Journal, 74, 420-421.