David Bartos

Mr Bartos brings a wealth of practical experience in commercial property litigation covering a wide breadth of landlord and tenant disputes together with a deep knowledge of property and contract law. His interests include the impact of new technologies on the law, including cryptocurrencies.

He has practised as an advocate since 1993, and been a chairperson of the Housing and Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland since 2011. He is a practising arbitrator, being a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 2007, having also acted as an arbitral-tribunal appointed expert on commercial leases.

Dr Gillian Black

Dr Black is a senior lecturer in 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 regularly speaks at academic and practitioner conferences and has recently been a consultant on family law matters for a BBC1 drama series.

Lady Paton, chair of the commission, said: “I congratulate David Bartos and Dr Gillian Black on their appointment as commissioners.

“David Bartos will lead our project on leases and our joint project with the Law Commission of England and Wales on automated vehicles.

“Dr Gillian Black will lead our joint project on surrogacy, and our project on damages for personal injury. It is vital for our society that the law on these matters is kept up to date and in tune with today’s values and beliefs, and that business and commerce can rely on a legal system that meets modern needs.”