Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of 'Vinson & Elkins LLP' and Keith Fullenweider

12 November 2025

Emails have been sent misusing the name of 'Vinson & Elkins LLP' and Keith Fullenweider, a Registered Foreign Lawyer (RFL) and Partner at Vinson & Elkins, in relation to supposed copyright infringement.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that emails have been sent to several companies purporting to be from 'Vinson & Elkins LLP' a genuine firm of solicitors (details below) regarding a supposed 'Notice of Intellectual Property Rights Violation'. The email advises the recipient that they have used copyrighted sound recordings on their Facebook platform and lists a number of requirements the recipient must comply with to avoid formal legal proceedings.

The email seen by the SRA also provides a hyperlink to a supposed Cease and Desist notice. The link is thought to be malicious or a phishing link. The email has been sent from the email address 'ryosasimpri1977@gmail.com'. The email sign-off also misuses the name of Keith Fullenweider, a genuine RFL and partner at Vinson & Elkins RLLP (details below).

Any business or transactions through the emails or email address described above is 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 Vinson & Elkins RLLP.  The email domain for the firm is '@velaw.com'.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a Registered Foreign Lawyer called Keith Fullenweider, whose SRA number is 670351. Keith Fullenweider is a partner at Vinson & Elkins RLLP, and his genuine details can be located on the firm's website www.velaw.com.

Vinson & Elkins RLLP and Keith Fullenweider have confirmed that they have no connection to the email or email address 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.