About the Author

ADRIAN D WARD is a recognised national and international expert in adult incapacity law.  While still practising he acted in or instructed many leading cases in the field.  He has been continuously involved in law reform processes.  His books include the current standard Scottish texts on the subject.  He has lectured and advised, and his prolific output of books and articles has been published, in many countries over more than three decades.  He is one of the Scottish contributors to the monthly Mental Capacity Report.  As consultant to the Council of Europe, he has recently completed a review of implementation throughout Europe of Council of Europe Recommendation (2009)11 on principles concerning powers of attorney and advance directives for incapacity.  His report “Enabling Citizens to Plan for Incapacity”, which includes proposals for future action and initiatives at European level, has been adopted and accepted, and was published by the Council in June 2018.  Prior to that he was a member of the core research group of the Three Jurisdictions Project which assessed compliance of the UK jurisdictions with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and made recommendations to UK government bodies.  He has addressed the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the UN in Geneva and has had ongoing contact with members of the Committee.  He is frequently in demand as keynote speaker at major international conferences.  He is an expert adviser to the Centre for Mental Health and Capacity Law, Edinburgh Napier University, and a research affiliate with Essex Autonomy Project.

He has been founder chairman of NHS Trusts and a Mental Health Association, and has also engaged in service delivery projects overseas.  He has been convener of the Mental Health and Disability Committee of the Law Society of Scotland since 1989.  His awards include an MBE for services to the mentally handicapped in Scotland; national awards for legal journalism, legal charitable work and legal scholarship; and the lifetime achievement award at the 2014 Scottish Legal Awards.  At the 2017 Law Society AGM he was the first person since 2009 to be made an honorary member of the Law Society of Scotland.