Alerts

Warning: Correspondence misusing the name and details of Irwin Mitchell LLP

25 September 2026

Correspondence misusing the name and details of Irwin Mitchell LLP have been sent in relation to a supposed demand for outstanding sums regarding to properties based overseas.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen WhatsApp messages and a notice of demand sent to a member of the public from an individual named ‘Richard Allen’, purporting to be genuine misusing the name and letterhead of a genuine firm (see below) making a demand for outstanding sums regarding properties based overseas.

The correspondence seen by the SRA includes a notice of demand purporting to be from the genuine firm and requests the member of the public make payment of the outstanding fees within 90 days of the notice of demand and threatens civil proceeding will be initiated if the payment is not made.

The documents were sent via WhatsApp messenger from the telephone number +447545585555.

Any business or transaction through the telephone numbers listed above is not undertaken by any 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 Irwin Mitchell LLP (SRA ID: 570654) whose head office address is Riverside East, 2 Millsands, Sheffield SA3 8DT. The genuine firm's telephone numbers are 03701 500100 and 0203 582 6232.

Irwin Mitchell LLP do employ an individual by the name Richard Allen.

The genuine firm has confirmed that Richard Allen and the firm has no connection to the matters 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.