Sam is a solicitor in Stone King’s Charity & Social Enterprise Team, advising charities, social enterprises and purpose-led businesses on a wide range of issues. He is based in Leeds, but splits his time between our Leeds and London offices.

Sam is a member of the Charity Law Association and regularly provides training for trustees and charity executives on trustee duties and charity governance issues.

Prior to joining Stone King, Sam worked in-house at not-for-profit organisations both in the UK and abroad. 

Sam advises on a range of charity law matters, including:

  • setting up and registering new charities;
  • assisting charities with changes to their legal form, including incorporations and conversions from or into charitable companies, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) and community interest companies (CICs);
  • liaising with the Charity Commission on constitutional and regulatory matters, such as inquiries and serious incident reports;
  • assisting with the restructuring of charities, including hive-offs, collaborations and mergers;
  • advising on fundraising requirements, including working with professional fundraisers, establishing commercial partnerships and accessing social finance;
  • assisting with governance reviews, including amendments to constitutional documents, internal policies and trustee or executive training; and
  • advising on the closure of charities and the transfer of assets out of charitable entities. 

Sam completed his Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School in Leeds, during which time he volunteered at a local charity to provide free legal advice to asylum seekers and refugees.

Sam is a keen sportsman, and in his spare time will often be found playing (or watching) various sports.

  • Assisting a leading academic grant-making organisation to conduct a constitutional review and subsequently incorporate as a charitable incorporated organisation.
  • Advising a leading national charity on the rationalisation and re-structure of a large number of linked and subsidiary funds.
  • Supporting with the management and administration of two charities that have been placed under the control of Interim Managers by the Charity Commission.
  • Advising two charities on negotiations with Local Government to obtain funding for property development works.

What our clients say

‘Both Tom Murdoch and Sam Dowgill have been approachable, listen well and respond in a timely way.’