Alerts

Warning: Emails falsely claiming to be from Cavendish Legal Group

13 February 2025

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from Richard Latham at Cavendish Legal Group in relation to supposed inheritance payments.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from a 'Richard Latham', who claims to be an 'Attorney at Law' at Cavendish Legal Group. The emails claim that a charity that the recipient is connected with could be the beneficiary of the estate of a deceased and asked for detailed ID and banking details.

The emails were sent using the email address 'info@cavendishlegalgroup.org'

The emails misuse the trading name of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

Any business or transaction through the email address of 'info@cavendishlegalgroup.org' is not undertaken by an individual or firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called O'Neill Patient Solicitors LLP, which uses Cavendish Legal Group as one of its trading names.  

The genuine email domain of the firm is @clglaw.co.uk.

The genuine firm of solicitors has confirmed that it has no genuine connection to the email or email address referred to in the above alert.

The SRA does not currently authorise a genuine solicitor called Richard Latham.  The SRA previously authorised a solicitor called Richard Latham, who came off the Roll of Solicitors in 2013 and is not believed to be connected to the matters 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.