Alerts

Warning: 'SRA Certificates' for 'Maesford Law Group' and website www.maesfordlawgroup.com

20 October 2022

'SRA Certificates' for 'Andrew Harrison' of 'Maesford Law Group' have been sent and the website www.maesfordlawgroup.com is operating.

What is the scam?

A member of the public has been sent a document claiming to be an SRA Practicing Certificate for the year 2019-2023 in the name of 'Andrew Harrison'.

The member of the public was also sent a document claiming to be an SRA Certificate 'sealed' by the 'Royal Court of United Kingdom' that claims 'Andrew Harrison' is certified and licensed at 'Maesford Law Group' to 'practice in all Courts in the United Kingdom and across the world'. (These documents were sent as proof following a request for payment for a retainer to represent the recipient in a legal matter in the UK.)

A website is operating 'https://www.maesfordlawgroup.com' for 'Maesford Law Group' claiming to be for a law firm based in London.

The website provides a London office address of '51 Lime Street, The Willis Building London, UK EC3' and a contact number of '+44 7537 169978'. It also provides addresses in Berlin and Toronto and a number of email addresses ending with the domain name '@maesfordlawgroup.com'.

The website also states that its 'team' includes people called 'Andrew Harrison','Lloyd G Barker','Danny Clayton','David T Delph','Kenneth P Watson' and 'Shania L Oakes',

The SRA does not authorise or regulate a firm of solicitors with the name 'Maesford Law Group' nor does it authorise or regulate solicitors called 'Lloyd G Barker','Danny Clayton','David T Delph','Kenneth P Watson'or 'Shania L Oakes'.

Any business or transaction through 'Maesford Law Group', solicitors called 'Lloyd G Barker','Danny Clayton','David T Delph','Kenneth P Watson','Shania L Oakes',or through the contact number '+44 7537 169978', emails ending with the domain name '@maesfordlawgroup.com', or the website 'www.maesfordlawgroup.com', is 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 several genuine solicitors called Andrew Harrison.

It is believed none of the genuine solicitors called 'Andrew Harrison' are connected to 'Maesford Law Group' or the certificates or 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 (eg. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.