Alerts
Warning: Invoice misusing the name of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
14 May 2023
An invoice has been sent falsely claiming to be from 'Herbert Smith Freehills' in relation to supposedly 'Professional/Legal Services'.
What is the scam?
An invoice has been sent falsely claiming to be from 'Herbert Smith Freehills LLP', in relation to supposedly 'Professional/Legal Services'.
The invoice was sent from the email address of 'ceo@uvnis.com'.
The invoice misuses the name of a genuine firm of solicitors and the names of several genuine solicitors (see below).
Any business or transactions through email address of 'ceo@uvnis.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 a genuine firm called Herbert Smith Freehills LLP. The firm’s email domain name is @hsf.com.
The SRA authorises and regulates genuine solicitors called Alison Brown, James Palmer, Stephen Wisking and Stephen Wilkinson. They are all Partners at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP have confirmed that neither it nor any of the Partners mentioned above have any connection with the email and invoice 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
Update 5 December 2023
Emails continue to be sent falsely claiming to be from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP requesting payment of invoices.
Recent emails reportedly claim to have been sent from Alison Brown (see below for details of the genuine solicitor) from these email addresses:
- 'Alison.Brown@HerbertSmithFreehills015.onmicrosoft.com'
- 'A.Brown@HerbertSmithFreehills782.onmicrosoft.com'
- 'Alison.Brown@HerbertSmithFreehillsLaw.onmicrosoft.com'
- 'Alison.Brown@HerbertSmithFreehillsLaw266.onmicrosoft.com'
- 'Alison.Brown@HerbertSmithFreehillsLaw675.onmicrosoft.com'
- 'alison.brown@herbertsmithlaw.onmicrosoft.com'
All genuine emails from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP still end with the domain name @hsf.com. The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Alison Brown who is an Executive Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP. Her genuine email address is Alison.brown@hsf.com. The genuine firm of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has confirmed that neither it nor the genuine Alison Brown have any genuine or intended connection with the emails referred to in the above alert.
Update 24 August 2023
Emails continue to be sent falsely claiming to be from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP requesting the payment of invoices.
We have been notified of the most recent email being sent from Amy Geddes from the email address: AmyGeddes@herbertsfhills.onmicrosoft.com
All genuine emails from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP end with the domain name @hsf.com.
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Amy Geddes who is a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP. Her genuine email address is Amy.Geddes@hsf.com.
The genuine firm of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has confirmed that neither it nor the genuine Amy Geddes have any genuine or intended connection with the emails referred to in the above alert.
Update 22 June 2023
Emails continue to be sent falsely claiming to be from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP requesting payment of invoices.
Recent emails seen by the SRA claim to be sent from Amy Geddes (see below for details of the genuine solicitor) from these email addresses:
'AmyGeddes@herbertsmithfreeh.onmicrosoft.com',
'Amy.geddes@herbertsmithfree.onmicrosoft.com' and
'Amy.geddes@HerbertSmithFreehills328.onmicrosoft.com'.
All genuine emails from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP end with the domain name @hsf.com.
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Amy Geddes who is a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP. Her genuine email address is Amy.Geddes@hsf.com.
The genuine firm of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has confirmed that neither it nor the genuine Amy Geddes have any genuine or intended connection with the emails referred to in the above alert.