Commission appoints new Senior Decision Maker

The Commission has announced the appointment of Dr. Kirsty Hood QC to its panel of Senior Decision Makers.

Senior Decision Makers are required to sit and hear those cases involving serious findings against a licensee and/or individual Directors where those findings are contested by the licensee. Where a case is proven, the Senior Decision Maker will determine what penalties should be imposed upon the licensee and/or Directors including the level of fine to be paid, any period of prohibition from practising in the industry and the contents of any public statement that is to be issued by the Commission.

Dr. Hood QC practices at the Scottish Bar having been called in 2001. She has a varied practice in the civil litigation field and is the author of “Conflict of Laws within the UK”. In addition to contributing to other publications in the areas of international private law and court procedure, Dr. Hood regularly gives lectures and seminars on university courses. She is currently the Advocate Member on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service Board and also Clerk of Faculty at the Faculty of Advocates which is an elected office-bearer position within that professional body.

Speaking about Dr. Hood’s appointment the Commission’s Chairman, Drs Cees Schrauwers, said “My fellow Commissioners and I are delighted that Dr. Hood QC has accepted this appointment. Her skills and experience further strengthens our panel and will be invaluable in those cases which she is asked to determine.”