Alerts

Warning: Website claiming to be a law firm called 'Neil Graham LLC'

29 August 2024

Website at 'www.neilgrahamllc.com' is operating and claiming to be a law firm called 'Neil Graham LLC'

What is the scam?

The SRA have seen a website of 'www.neilgrahamllc.com' operating and falsely claiming to be the website for a law firm. The website provides an email address of 'contact@neilgrahamllc.com' and a telephone number of '07452 190187'. The website misuses the address of a genuine firm (see below) of Victoria Club, John Street, Off Crum Hill, Cheshire CW9 5ER.  The website also falsely claims that the firm is authorised and regulated by the SRA and that its registration number is 611029. 

The SRA have also been advised that a member of the public received an email claiming to be from an individual falsely claiming to be a partner at Neil Graham LLC going by the name of 'Richard Hirst'. The email was sent using the address of 'richardhirst@pprojectz.com' and was in relation to a supposed insurance policy. The email also misuses a head office address of the genuine firm of solicitors (please see below).

The SRA does not authorise or regulate a firm of solicitors called 'Neil Graham LLC'. The SRA does not authorise or regulate any firm or individual under the SRA ID/registration number 611029.

Any business or transaction through the website of 'www.neilgrahamllc.com', the email addresses of 'richardhirst@pprojectz.com' and 'contact@neilgrahamllc.com' and the telephone number of '07452 190187' is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA does authorise and regulate a firm called Gavin Edmondson Solicitors Ltd whose head office address is Victoria Club, John Street, Off Crum Hill, Cheshire CW9 5ER.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Richard Anthony Hirst, who is employed at Laker Legal Solicitors Ltd.

The genuine firm of Gavin Edmondson Solicitors Ltd and the genuine Richard Anthony Hirst have confirmed they have no connection to the website and email referred to above.

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.