The Good Law Project (GLP), a left-wing campaign group known for challenging government and public bodies through judicial reviews, has restructured as an offshore trust in Jersey. This move has drawn accusations of hypocrisy, particularly from legal experts who note the group's history of criticizing offshore financial practices.
Jolyon Maugham KC, the director of GLP, spearheaded the restructuring, which places the organization under the ownership of a 'purpose trust' on the island. Critics argue this setup allows GLP to benefit from the structures of a charity without adhering to the regulatory oversight that typically accompanies such designations in the UK.
GLP has previously published articles, including one in 2024 titled 'The offshore bonanza powering Reform's far-Right rhetoric,' which specifically targeted offshore arrangements. This history has intensified the backlash against its recent decision.
Veteran barrister Barbara Rich stated that the restructuring allows GLP to operate "without the burden of charity registration." She suggested that Maugham is "pretty antagonistic towards the Charity Commission generally and would prefer to have a free hand than be subject to any regulator at all," characterizing the move as "enormously hypocritical."
GLP was established in 2017 as a non-profit company limited by guarantee. In May, when the restructuring was announced, the group stated that Maugham's original intention was to create an organization with the public interest features of a charity but free from the "moving political guardrails policed" by the Charity Commission. GLP also noted that a key feature of charities is that they are not individually owned but exist for a purpose, and that the time had come to replicate this by becoming a trust.
Under the new structure, Maugham has replaced himself as the owner with the trust. GLP indicated this change would allow for other trustees to join, making the organization operate more like a charity board. James Mews of Jersey-based Amati Law explained that a Jersey purpose trust offers greater confidentiality and privacy regarding control, ownership, and resources compared to a UK company, which remains subject to stringent regulatory oversight.
The controversy also intersects with political scrutiny. Former Conservative leader Rishi Sunak had previously pledged to crack down on activist lawyers engaged in "lawfare," citing cases involving Maugham as examples of legal actions intended to frustrate parliamentary will.
Criminal barrister Matthew Scott commented on the financial aspect, noting that while GLP is not a registered charity, it solicits and receives substantial public funding, exceeding £4 million in the 2024-2025 period. GLP had not commented when approached for a statement.
In February, GLP was unsuccessful in a High Court judicial review concerning guidance issued by the UK's equalities watchdog on single-sex spaces. Maugham's legal actions are typically funded through crowdfunding.