Alerts

Warning: Emails and website misusing the name of Gillhams Solicitors LLP

3 December 2021

Emails and a website falsely claiming to be associated with Gillhams Solicitors LLP

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that emails have been sent that falsely claim to be from Gillhams Solicitors. We understand the email was sent from ‘Joe Barns’ from the email address ‘joe.barns@gilhams.com’, and gave the address of Unit 3 Rowan House, 9-31 Victoria Road, London, NW10 6DP (which is an old address of a genuine firm - see below for details of genuine firm).

The website ‘www.gilhams.com’ (notice one “I” rather than two) is operating and misusing the name of Gillhams Solicitors LLP. The website misuses the logo, address, SRA number of the genuine firm, as well as copying other content from the genuine firm’s website (see below for details). The bogus website also provides an email contact address of ‘info@gilhams.com’ and a telephone number of: ‘+44 77 00 309 236’

Any business or transaction through ‘Joe Barns’ (of the email address above), or the website and email / telephone numbers above, are not undertaken by a solicitors’ practice authorised and regulated by the SRA or by an individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Gillhams Solicitors LLP, whose head office is at 26 North End Road, Golders Green, London, NW11 7PT. The firm’s genuine website address is www.gillhams.com and the firm can be contacted on 020 8965 4266 or through the email address solicitors@gillhams.com. The SRA ID for the firm is 488436.

The firm were previously located at Unit 3 Rowan House, 9-31 Victoria Road, London, NW10 6DP, but have since moved to the North End Road address set out above.

The genuine firm of Gillhams Solicitors LLP has confirmed that they do not have any genuine or intended connection to the emails and website 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.