Alerts

Warning: Correspondence misusing the name of Goldman Knightley Solicitors

15 October 2021

Correspondence have been sent misusing the name of Goldman Knightley Solicitors in relation to matters involving Administration of Estates.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that correspondence has been sent to several firms of solicitors and other companies purporting to be from Goldman Knightley Solicitors in relation to matters involving the Administration of Estates.

The letters seen by the SRA refer to an outstanding invoice allegedly owing to by the estate of an individual in respect of a successful PPI claim. 

The correspondence seen by the SRA names the deceased individual as a creditor and provides an invoice for the allegedly outstanding amount.  They also give bank account details into which payment of the debt should be made within seven days. The letter is sent from 'James Cooper, Accounts Team’ and provides an email address of “help@goldman-knighley.co.uk”. It also gives the postal address of the genuine firm (see below).

Any business or transactions through the email address of “help@goldman-knightley.co.uk”  is not  undertaken by a solicitor’s 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 Goldman Knightley Limited trading as Goldman Knightley Solicitors.  The genuine firm's address  Ground Floor, Newspaper House, 40 Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1HL. The genuine firm use mail addresses ending with the domain name  '@goldmanknightley.co.uk'.

The genuine firm has confirmed that it has no genuine connection with the correspondence referred to in the above alert.

Goldman Knightley Solicitors have confirmed they do not employ anyone called James Cooper.

The SRA authorises and regulates a number of solicitors called James Cooper, none of whom are  believed to have any connection with 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.