Adrian Ward

National and international subject expert;

Currently responsible for leading the drafting of model laws and supporting materials for the European Law Institute (ELI) project on advance choices;

Contributor for Scotland to the monthly online Mental Capacity Report (circulation over 16,000), from 1984 to date author of (and invited contributor to) standard subject textbooks on Scots law, and books of wider interest published in several countries and languages; adviser to various governments and international organisations;

Charity of Law Award;

Silver Quill Award for Legal Journalism;

Lifetime Achievement Award, Scottish Legal Awards (2014);

Honorary Member of the Law Society of Scotland (2017);

Expert Adviser to the Centre for Mental Health and Capacity Law, Edinburgh Napier University; Research Affiliate, Essex Autonomy Project, University of Essex;

as Consultant to Council of Europe, author of “Enabling Citizens to Plan for Incapacity” (2018); Fellow, European Law Institute;

Convener, Mental Health and Disability Committee, Law Society of Scotland (1989-2023);

President, Organising Committee, World Congress on Adult Capacity, Edinburgh (2022);

and member of steering group of Advisory Committee for all World Congresses. 

Background: practising solicitor from 1967, non-practising from 2016, author and joint author of several textbooks including “Adult Incapacity” (2003), “Adults with Incapacity Legislation” (2008), “The International Protection of Adults” (2015), “Court of Protection Practice” annually from 2010, 3rd edition (2015) and 4th edition (2018) of “Mental Capacity Law and Practice”, textbooks in several overseas countries and languages.