Alerts

Warning: 'Invoice' misusing the name, logo, and contact details of Housing & Property Law Partnership Solicitors

2 October 2023

An 'invoice' has been sent which misuses the name, logo, and contact details of Housing & Property Law Partnership Solicitors.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that an invoice has been sent claiming to be from Housing & Property Law Partnership Solicitors supposedly in respect of services relating to a court case.

The document seen by the SRA misuses the name, logo, and contact details of a genuine firm of solicitors and email address of one of its former employees (see below). The ‘Authorised Signature’ on the invoice purports to be signed by ‘Nicola McDermott’ and the email address provided was ‘nmcdermott@housingandproperty.co.uk’. Nicola McDermott was not an authorised signatory of the firm.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Housing & Property Law Partnership Solicitors which also uses the trading name of HPLP Solicitors. Its registered office is at 2-5 Warwick Court, London, WC1R 5DJ. Its telephone number is 0207 553 9000 and its email domain ends @housingandproperty.co.uk.

The genuine firm of Housing & Property Law Partnership previously employed an individual named Nicola McDermott, who was a Paralegal (not a solicitor). 

The genuine firm of Housing & Property Law Partnership Solicitors has confirmed that neither it nor the genuine Nicola McDermott have any connection to the invoice referred to in the alert above.

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.