Alerts

Warning: Correspondence from 'Sawing Graham' or 'Sawing Graham Legal Chamber'

5 April 2023

A website was claiming to be for 'Sawing Graham Legal Chamber', misusing the photograph and career information of a genuine solicitor.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that the website https://www.sawingraham.com was operating, purporting to be the website of Sawing Graham Legal Chamber.

The website falsely presented a photograph and career background of Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC (Hon) as supposedly being 'Barr Sawing Graham' (see below for details of the genuine solicitor).

The website is no longer operating but also provided a contact email address of 'contactus@sawingraham.com'. We understand at least one member of the public was contacted by 'Sawing Graham' in relation to a potential scam.

The SRA does not authorise and regulate a firm called 'Sawing Graham Legal Chamber' or any individual solicitor called 'Sawing Graham'..

Any business or transaction through 'Sawing Graham Legal Chamber' or 'Sawing Graham' 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 a firm called Bindmans LLP and the genuine solicitor Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC (Hon), who is a consultant at Bindmans LLP.

Bindmans LLP has confirmed that neither the firm nor the genuine Sir Geoffrey Bindman have any genuine or intended connection with the 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.