Alerts

Warning: Email misusing the name of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

30 April 2021

Email misusing the names of Rebecca Campbell and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, providing supposed alternative bank details for a payment.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that an email has been sent which misuses the names of Rebecca Campbell and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP (see below for genuine details).

The SRA understands that the email provides new 'subsidiary company' bank details for a proposed payment of an invoice, and was sent from the email address 'rebecca.campbell_bclplaw@dr.com'.  The purported payment details were provided on a document that misused the name and London office details of the genuine firm (see below).  

Any business or transactions through the email address 'rebecca.campbell_bclplaw@dr.com' are not undertaken by a solicitors' practice or an individual authorised or regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. The London office address is Governor's House, 5 Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0BR, with a general telephone number of 0203 400 1000 and a fax number of 0203 400 1111.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Rebecca Campbell who is a Partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. Rebecca Campbell's genuine email address is Rebecca.Campbell@bclplaw.com (or Rebecca.Campbell@blplaw.com).

The genuine Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP have confirmed that that neither they nor any of their solicitors or staff have any genuine connection to the email or documents referred to in the above alert.

What should I do?

When a firm's or individual's identity has been copied exactly (or cloned), due diligence is necessary. If you receive correspondence claiming to be from the above firm(s) or individual(s), or information of a similar nature to that described, you should conduct your own due diligence by checking the authenticity of the correspondence by contacting the law firm directly by reliable and established means. You can contact the SRA to find out if individuals or firms are regulated and authorised by the SRA and verify an individual's or firm's practising details. Other verification methods, such as checking public records (e.g. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.