The commission's former chairman James Wood QC left in December 2013 to take up a new role as chairman of the State Parole Authority. He had held the position since 2006.

There has been no permanent chairperson since Mr Wood QC’s resignation, the Sydney Morning Herald reported in June.

The NSW Bar Association advertised the position of part-time chairperson of the NSWLRC in July and has only now announced the appointment of Mr Cameron AO for a three-year term.

Ms Upton described Mr Cameron a "legal all-rounder".

“From working on complex law reform, being a leader in civil law through to helping some of the most vulnerable members of our community solve their legal challenges, Mr Cameron brings a unique and diverse set of skills and perspectives to the role,” she said.

Mr Cameron’s first move as chairman will be to refer the NSWLRC for a review of guardianship law, according to Ms Upton.

“Mr Cameron’s expertise in conducting reviews is highly sought after in Australia and abroad, and I look forward to the guidance he will provide the NSW Government on important legal issues,” Ms Upton said.

Over the last 15 years, Mr Cameron has played a pivotal role in reviews of financial and market regulation in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan and the UK.

He has also reviewed guidelines on police pursuits for the ACT Government and aspects of federal insurance and income tax assessment laws.

Mr Cameron said: “It will be a great privilege to lead such an important independent legal body, and I look forward to advising the NSW Government on areas of the law in need of reform.”