Alerts

Warning: Invoice misusing the name of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP

29 May 2023

An invoice and bogus email have been sent falsely claiming to be from 'Norton Rose Fulbright LLP'.

What is the scam?

An invoice has been sent falsely claiming to be from 'Norton Rose Fulbright LLP'.  The invoice misuses the name, address and website address of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below) and states it is supposedly for 'Professional/Legal Services'.

The SRA understands that the invoice, or a similar bogus invoice, was sent from the email address 'MadelineBailey@notinrose156.onmicrosoft.com', which misuses the name of a genuine employee of the firm (see below).

Any business or transactions through the email address of 'MadelineBailey@notinrose156.onmicrosoft.com', or any email address from that email domain, 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 Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, trading as Norton Rose Fulbright. The head office is at 3 More London Riverside, London, SE1 2AQ. The firm’s website is at https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com.  The firm’s email domain name is @nortonrosefulbright.com.

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP employs a genuine Madeline Bailey, who is a genuine solicitor but is currently not practising as a solicitor.

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP have confirmed that neither the firm or their genuine Madeline Bailey 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.