Alerts
Warning: Stamped document misusing the name of Nathan Woodward of Freemans Law LLP
24 August 2023
A 'stamped' document has been sent misusing the names of Nathan Woodward and Freemans Solicitors.
What is the scam?
A stamped document described as a 'memorandum of understanding' has been signed and stamped by an individual falsely purporting to be Mr Nathan Woodward of Freemans Solicitors. The stamped document misuses the name of a genuine solicitor and the trading name and former London address of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).
The document relates to a supposed multi-million pound investment in an overseas company by another company, in return for a share of profits in a business proposal. The 'stamp' placed on the document asserts that the document is produced or connected to 'Nathan Woodward, Attorney At Law, Freemans Solicitors Law Firm'. An email address is also provided on the document of 'nathanw@freemansolicitors.net' (with one 's' in the middle of the domain name).
Any correspondence or documents sent through or connected to the above email address are not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Nathan Woodward, who is a partner / member at Freemans Law LLP (which trades as Freemans Solicitors). His genuine email address is nw@freemanssolicitors.net (with two letters 's' in the middle)
The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Freemans Law LLP, trading as Freemans Solicitors. The firm did previously have its head office at 22 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0HW, but since April 2023 has been based at 18 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4EQ.
The genuine firm above has confirmed that neither it nor the genuine Nathan Woodward has any connection to the document referred to in the above alert.
The SRA does also authorise another genuine firm of solicitors called Freemans, which also trades as Freemans Solicitors but is based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. The same firm has also registered as an LLP with the name Freemans Solicitors LLP, but we understand that the LLP is not currently trading. This firm has also confirmed it has no connection to the document 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.