Bristol law firm’s Pink Book – the legal ‘bible’ for landowners and farmers – has become available online for the first time.
The detailed reference guide covers topics as diverse as buying, selling and developing farmland, estate planning, trusts and partnerships, planning and employment law. There is guidance on contracts, brand protection, tenancies and food law.
Burges Salmon food, farming and land sector group partner Tom Hewitt said: “When we first launched the Pink Book in 2011, it was in response to a real need for a reference book of this type. 
“The complexity of issues such as family partnerships and tax planning can be daunting and the Pink Book aims to provide a comprehensive reference guide.
“We’ve intentionally written the content without legalese or jargon and the book aims to give businesses a thorough understanding of current law as applied to farming, land management and related issues.
“Our clients and the wider industry say that the content is a really practical reference source and valuable for clarification on specific points of law.
“By giving landowners access to this information they will have a better appreciation of the risks and how to avoid them.”
He said the book was not intended to replace legal advice, but to give an indication of when legal expertise or representation would be prudent or necessary.
Each chapter contains a series of articles with worked examples, case studies and tabulated data to illustrate the topics under discussion. This includes what procedures have to be followed in dealing with issues such as planning, employment and risk management.
The Pink Book was substantially updated last year and the online migration is the next stage in its development.
To download the digital Pink Book go to www.burges-salmon.com/pink book 2 and follow the Pink Book links.
