in 1995, he was appointed to the scottish law commission as commissioner to direct major reforms in property law. he served as a commissioner until 2005 and was responsible for the reports which resulted in the abolition of feudal tenure etc. (scotland) act 2000, the title conditions (scotland) act 2003 and the tenements (scotland) act 2004. in addition he authored the discussion papers which led ultimately to the land registration etc. (scotland) act 2012. he was appointed cbe for his law reform work. in 2015 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the university of cape town.