Alerts

Warning: Email regarding Trademarks misusing the name of a genuine solicitor

16 June 2026

An email has been sent offering to file a trademark for a UK brand name with the UK Intellectual Property Office which misuses the name of the genuine solicitor Patrick Duxbury.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen an email sent from the email address 'patrick.duxbury@britaintrademarkexperts.co.uk' which misuses the name of a genuine solicitor (see below).

The email informs the recipient that a third party has approached the sender to register the UK brand name of the recipient's business, seeking exclusive rights to their brand name. The email invites the recipient to secure trademark registration of their brand name first and offers to assist with this process.

The email contains the business name 'Britain Trademark Experts' the telephone number '0783 076 5607', the website address www.britaintrademarkexperts.co.uk and postal address 76 Corporation St, Birmingham, B2 5LS, UK.

The SRA does not authorise or regulate a firm of solicitors with the name 'Britain Trademark Experts'.

Any business or transaction through the above contact details is not undertaken by a firm or solicitor authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Patrick Duxbury (SRA ID 159854) who is currently working at Gowling WLG (UK) LLP (SRA ID 382961).

Patrick Duxbury has confirmed that he has no connection to 'Britain Trademark Experts' or the above e-mail.

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.