Alerts

Warning: 'Barrister Sgh.Martineau LLP Law Chambers' claiming to be a law firm

25 November 2022

An email has been sent claiming to be from 'Barrister Sgh.Martineau LLP Law Chambers' in relation to a supposed legal transaction requesting transfer of monies.

What is the scam?

An email has been sent to a member of the public from an individual claiming to be from 'Barrister Sgh.Martineau LLP Law Chambers' in relation to a supposed legal transaction requesting transfer of monies.

The email seen by the SRA was sent using the email address of 'benedictmartinlaw1@gmail.com'. The email provides a telephone number of '+447448701769'.

The email includes the name of a genuine solicitor and misuses the postal address of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The SRA does not authorise and regulate a firm of solicitors called 'Barrister Sgh.Martineau LLP Law Chambers'.

Any business or transactions through the email address 'benedictmartinlaw1@gmail.com' or the telephone number'+447448701769', contact details are not undertaken by a solicitors' practice or 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 Shakespeare Martineau LLP. The genuine firm has an office at 60 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V OHR and its telephone number is +44 (0) 20 7264 4444. Emails for the genuine firm end in the  domain ‘@shma.co.uk’.

The SRA also authorises a genuine firm of solicitors called Eversheads Sutherland (International) LLP, whose head office is at One Wood Street London EC2V 7WS.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Benedict Martin, who is a Partner at the genuine firm of John P Martin & Co. His genuine email address is ben@johnpmartin.co.uk.

The genuine firms Shakespeare Martineau LLP and Eversheads Sutherland (International) LLP, and the genuine solicitor Benedict Martin have confirmed that neither the firm nor their employees have a genuine and intended connection to the email correspondence 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.