Tom Murdoch

Partner

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Tom specialises in charity law and is particularly known for his expertise in charitable status, the development of novel charitable purposes and the governance and control of complex charity structures, including charity spin-offs from the state. He acts for a wide variety of charities and social enterprises in various areas, including public interest information, educational and campaigning organisations; academic, professional and learned institutions; and heritage, science and environmental/conservation charities. Tom advises on contentious and charity-law compliance issues, structural re-organisations, amendment of royal charters, trading, mergers and restricted funds, special trusts and endowments.

"an expert in charity law who is confident and highly personable." Client Feedback in Chambers, 2021.

Recent charity work includes:

establishing a new charitable purpose to cover Public Interest Journalism; registering the first such charity; and contributing to Dame Francis Cairncross’ submissions to the Lords Communications Committee;
advising a royal trust on planned spend-out and closure;
first registration of new charitable purposes associated with wiki-content, local authority public health responsibilities and novel Covid-related purposes;
assisting with the conversion of a national Government-sponsored social enterprise to a new royal charter body;
establishing a new charity to manage significant public assets in London;
assisting the Government with the establishment of a new national infrastructure charity;
participating in diverse working parties on the development of charity law, including on the Charities Act 2022.

Interests include the 'common good', ‘public interest’ information and social-purpose enterprise and finance.

What our clients say

Tom Murdoch …is praised for his "integrity and attention to detail as well as his remarkable energy and complete focus on achieving great results for his clients. He remains calm and persuasive when dealing with regulators and counterparties during the most complex negotiations".

Legal 500 - 2017