Alerts

Warning: Correspondence misusing the name of Brownstone Law Limited

23 July 2023

Correspondence has been sent misusing the name of Brownstone Law Limited.

What is the scam?

Letters have been sent falsely claiming to be from John Bechelet of Brownstone Law Limited, in relation to proposed holdings purchases.

These letters misuse the name and address of a genuine firm of solicitors and solicitor at that firm (see below). At least one of these letters was attached to an email from 'Michael Stonebridge' using the email domain 'help@brownstonelawltd.co.uk'. This email misused the name and address of Brownstone Law Limited. 

Any business or transactions through the email domain of 'help@brownstonelawltd.co.uk' 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 firm of solicitors called Brownstone Law Limited, whose head office address is 24 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3ND.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called John Bechelet, who is a Director of the genuine firm Brownstone Law Limited. John Bechelet’s SRA ID is 126084.

The SRA does not authorise and regulate any solicitor called Michael Stonebridge.

The genuine firm of Brownstone Law Limited has confirmed that neither it nor John Bechelet has any connection to the correspondence referred to in the above alert. John Bechelet has confirmed the genuine firm of Brownstone Law Limited is a dormant company.

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.