Alerts

Warning: A bogus letter falsely claiming to be from Owen White Catlin LLP, regarding a lease agreement on a takeaway food outlet

8 October 2026

A letter has been sent to an energy company regarding a lease agreement on a takeaway food outlet, falsely claiming to be from Laura Infield of Owen White Catlin LLP.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that a letter has been sent to an energy company, falsely claiming to be from Owen White Catlin LLP (see further below for genuine firm details).

The bogus letter seen by the SRA includes the firm’s name and logo in the top left corner, set out in white lettering on a dark background (similar to the style on the firm's genuine website). The bogus letter also provides and misuses the firm's genuine SRA ID number and website address toward the top right of the letterhead, and misuses a genuine branch office address of the firm. The layout seen within this letter is not the same as the genuine firm's letterhead (see below).

The letter seen by the SRA is signed off misusing the name and a false signature of a genuine solicitor (see below).

Any business or transaction through the above correspondence, or on such a letterhead, 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 firm of solicitors called Owen White & Catlin LLP. The Firm's SRA ID is 499271 and it has a genuine branch office located at 56 High Street, Shepperton, TW17 9AY.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor named Laura Infield (SRA ID 519627).

Owen White & Catlin LLP have confirmed that their current, genuine letterhead carries the firm's logo in the top right corner (in coloured lettering on a white background), and includes the firm's website address and registered office details in a footer at the bottom.

Owen White & Catlin LLP has confirmed that neither they, nor the genuine Laura Infield, have any genuine connection to the correspondence 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.