Practice areas:
Mr. Murdaugh joined Smith, Murdaugh, Little & Bonham, L.L.P. in September, 1977 at which time the firm was Smith, Rowe, Hay & Bacon. His practice primarily includes the creation and representation of municipal utility districts and similar political subdivisions, both as general counsel and as bond counsel for tax-exempt financings. He has represented cities and school districts both as bond counsel and as underwriter’s counsel, and on behalf of the firm has also represented the City of Houston as bond counsel in its issuance of Certificates of Obligation. He has practiced before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board, and from 1973 until he joined this firm he was an Assistant Attorney General of the State of Texas, serving as Chief of the Municipal Bonds and Charitable Trusts Division from 1975 until 1977. Prior to his years in the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Murdaugh was on active duty with the U. S. Navy JAG Corps from 1968 until 1973.
Professional affiliations:
Mr. Murdaugh was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1968. In addition to the State Bar of Texas, he is a member of the American Bar Association, the Houston Bar Association, the Association of Water Board Directors, and the National Association of Bond Lawyers.
Education:
Mr. Murdaugh received his LL.B. degree from the University of Texas in 1968 and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University in May, 1965.
Community service and interests:
Mr. Murdaugh has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Rice Design Alliance including a term as President of the Board. For many years he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts in Round Top, Texas, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Chinquapin School in Houston, Texas, where he is now on the Advisory Board. He is an active member of Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in downtown Houston, where he has served as Senior Warden of the Cathedral Vestry and as chairman of the 2011 capital campaign.