Kate Dowdalls KC was appointed a full-time Scottish Law Commissioner in July 2018. She has been a Member of the Faculty of Advocates since 2000, following 15 years in private practice. She took silk in 2013. Throughout her career she has specialised in family law. She has extensive experience in all aspects of child and family law and has litigated family cases in Sheriff Courts throughout Scotland, the Outer and Inner Houses of the Court of Session, the Sheriff Appeal Court and UK Supreme Court. She has appeared in cases at the forefront of development of family law, notably in the areas of cohabitation and adoption. She is currently leading the Scottish Law Commission’s work on reform of aspects of family law. Kate is a regular contributor at conferences and seminars on matters of interest and concern to family lawyers.