Alerts
Warning: Email misusing the name of Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP and John Adams
22 June 2023
An email has been sent to an individual misusing the name of John Adams of Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP.
What is the scam?
The SRA has been advised that an email has been sent to an individual from the supposed chairman of a company appointing the individual as the Chief Executive Officer of a new holding subsidiary.
The email provides that 'M.John Adams, who is a partner at Sherman Sterling law firm' is representing the company in the matter and is the sole point of contact during the 'new entities formation process' and requests that contact should be made with him using the email address 'john.adams@shearman-sterling.group'.
The email misuses the name of a genuine firm and a genuine solicitor (see below).
Any business or transaction through 'john.adams@shearman-sterling.group' is 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 Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP. The email domain for the firm is @Shearman.com.
The SRA also authorises and regulates four solicitors called John Adams, one of whom is a partner at the firm Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP.
The genuine firm of Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP has confirmed that neither it nor the genuine John Adams who is a partner at the firm have any connection to the email referred to in the above alert.
The SRA believes that none of the other solicitors called John Adams are connected to the email 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.
Related SRA scam alerts
More information
Updated 14 August 2023.
The SRA has been advised about an email misusing the name of John Adams, a partner in Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP. The email was received by Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP from a third party.
The email was sent giving john.adams@shearman-sterling.co.uk as a contact address. The recipient was asked to contact John Adams at the email address to sign employment documents.
Any business or transaction through the email address john.adams@shearman-sterling.co.uk is not undertaken by a solicitors' practice or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Updated 14 July 2023
The SRA has been informed that another member of the public received an email claiming to be from 'John Adams' using the email 'john.adams@shearman-sterling.co.uk'.
The email refers to the recipient being appointed as Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of a new investment company and asks him to sign and return an 'NDA' along with a copy of his passport.
Any business or transaction through 'john.adams@shearman-sterling.co.uk' is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.