Alerts

Warning: Document stamp misusing the name of Stuart & Co Solicitors

8 February 2022

Documents have been stamped misusing the name of Stuart & Co Solicitors.

What is the scam?

The SRA have seen documents which 'certified that the document is a true copy of the original', having been stamped by a 'stamp' purporting to be from 'Stuart & Co Solicitors' claiming to be 'Solicitors & Commissioner for Oath'.

One document was falsely signed by someone purporting to be a genuine solicitor (see below), erroneously providing a personal SRA ID of '406684' (see below). Another document was falsely signed by someone purporting to be called 'Jamil Trawlly' misusing a similar name of another genuine solicitor and his SRA ID (see below), and providing a telephone contact number of '0208 066 0377'.

The SRA does not authorise a solicitor called 'Jamil Trawlly'.

The stamp misuses the name, postal address and telephone number of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

Any business or transactions through the above telephone number is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA does authorise and regulate a genuine firm called Stuart & Co Solicitors based at 285 Fore Street London N9 0PD. The telephone number is 02088871360 and the firm’s SRA ID is 406684.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Burcu Simsek who is a solicitor at Stuart & Co Solicitors. Her SRA ID 651819.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Jamil Trawally, who was previously employed at Stuart & Co Solicitors until September 2020. His SRA ID is 322848.

The genuine firm Stuart & Co Solicitors and Burcu Simsek and Jamil Trawally have confirmed that they do not have any connection to the 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.