Reappointment of Professor Gillian Black

The Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhán Brown MSP, has announced the reappointment of Professor Gillian Black as a Commissioner of the Scottish Law Commission. Public appointment: Commissioner reappointed to the Scottish Law Commission - gov.scot

Professor Black has held a Ministerial appointment as Commissioner of the Scottish Law Commission since 22 April 2020.  She was appointed a part-time Commissioner and the appointment became a full-time one from 1 June 2023. She is leading the Scottish Law Commission’s work on family law relating to civil remedies for domestic abuse.  She also led the Scottish Law Commission’s work on surrogacy resulting in the publication of a joint report with the Law Commission of England and Wales in March 2023. 

Lady Paton, Chair of the Scottish Law Commission said:

“I am delighted that Professor Black has been reappointed as a Commissioner for a further 3 years. She has already made a significant contribution to the Commission and I look forward to her continuing to lead the important work in considering civil remedies for domestic abuse.”  

Professor Black is Professor of Scots Private Law at the University of Edinburgh, with teaching and research interests principally in family law, contract law, and privacy.  She also has a research interest in heraldry, and has published widely across these fields.  She is a graduate of the Universities of Glasgow (LLB, DPLP) and Edinburgh (PhD).

This reappointment will be for 3 years, from 22 April 2025 to 21 April 2028.  The post is full-time and carries a remuneration of £105,668. Professor Black holds no other public appointments.

The Scottish Law Commission, along with its counterpart for England and Wales, was set up by the Law Commissions Act 1965. It exists to keep the law of Scotland under review with a view to its modernisation, simplification and systematic reform. The Commission receives and considers proposals for changes to the law, examines particular branches of the law, and makes recommendations for reform.

This Ministerial public re-appointment was made in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.  All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Professor Black has undertaken no political activities over the last five years.