Alerts

Warning: Correspondence and a website misusing the name of Edward Hayes and claiming to be for Edward Hayes LLP and Edward Hayes Solicitors

9 June 2025

Letters have been sent to members of the public falsely claiming to be from Edward Hayes of Edward Hayes LLP/Edward Hayes Solicitors. A website at 'ehayesllp.com' is also operating and falsely claiming to be a law firm.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that letters have been sent to a US Citizen and a Canadian citizen misusing the name of a genuine firm of solicitors which is no longer operating (see below). The letter also misuses the name of a genuine solicitor (see below).

The letter seen by the SRA falsely claims that the recipient of the letter is a potential next of kin and therefore entitled to an unclaimed savings deposit of USD 9,820,000 following the death of an individual who had no traceable relatives.

The letter requests the recipient to a provide consent to make a claim to obtain the savings deposit by responding to the email address eh@ehayesllp.com. The letter also provides a telephone number of +447551351666 and a postal address of 11 Liverpool Terrace, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1TA

There is also a website operating at www.ehayesllp.com which is falsely claiming to be a law firm. The website lists individuals called Christine Dransfield, Sandra Clark and a genuine solicitor (see below) as partners of the firm. The SRA does not authorise or regulate individuals called Christine Dransfield or Sandra Clark. The website also provides a telephone number of +441243969275 and an email address of info@ehayesllp.com .

Any business or transaction through Edward Hayes Solicitors, Edward Hayes LLP, the email addresses of eh@ehayesllp.com and info@ehayesllp.com, the telephone numbers +447551351666 and +441243969275, the address of 11 Liverpool Terrace, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TA or the website at www.ehayesllp.com is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA no longer authorises or regulates a firm of solicitors called Edward Hayes LLP. This firm ceased to practice on 2 July 2018.

The SRA authorises and regulates a solicitor called Edward James Wybron Hayes (SRA number 529710) who has informed the SRA that he has no connection to the letters, the website, or the firm detailed 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.