SKO joined by New Consultant, Prof Gillian Black
19th January 2026
We are delighted to welcome Prof Gillian Black as a Consultant. You can find out more about Gillian here. Gillian's expertise bolsters our offering in the areas of privacy, parentage and heraldry.
Gillian's PhD in 2009 examined issues of identity and privacy in the context of publicity and image rights and she has written on issues about privacy in Scotland's divorce laws. Gillian's work on parentage has been wide-ranging and has included her appointment as Scottish Law Commissioner on the joint project with the English Law Commission on Surrogacy in 2019 and also an analysis of legal parental status and the significance of genetics.
Gillian's interest in peerage law and the succession to titles, chiefships and coats of arms lead to her appointment initially as an Officer of Arms, and latterly as Carrick Pursuivant in Ordinary, to the Court of the Lord Lyon. Scotland has a long and distinctive history of titles, clans and heraldry. Succession to titles, chiefships and coats of arms is a matter of considerable significance to the immediate family and can also impact on the wider clan or kinship. The need for succession planning and for expert advice when the succession “opens” (when the current holder of the title, chiefship or arms dies) requires a sensitive and professional understanding of the law and the wider family context. SKO brings together an expert understanding of Scots family law with specialist heraldic and peerage legal knowledge, allowing us to help guide you through questions of succession and planning.
