Alerts

Warning: Email sent misusing the domain wedlakebell-solicitors.com and the name of Laura Brookes

30 June 2025

An email has been sent misusing the domain wedlakebell-solicitors.com and the name of Laura Brookes to obtain funds.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen an email purporting to come from a solicitor named Laura Brookes requesting payment for €977,650 to a beneficiary located in Slovakia.

The email sent from the email address laura.brookes@wedlakebell-solicitors.com also misuses the name of a genuine solicitor (see below) and the genuine address of the firm. The email also provides a telephone number of '+44 7984395866'.

Any business or transactions through the email address laura.brookes@wedlakebell-solicitors.com and the telephone number '+447984 395866' are 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 Wedlake Bell LLP (SRA ID: 533172). The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Laura Green (SRA ID 397020), formerly known as Laura Brookes, however she does not work at the firm.

Wedlake Bell LLP have confirmed they do not have any connection 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.