Alerts

Warning: 'Hawthorne & Associates Solicitors' claiming to be a law firm

6 August 2025

Emails have been sent to a member of the public from a 'Michael Allen' at 'Hawthorne & Associates Solicitors' in relation to an inheritance.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen an email asking the recipient to contact a solicitor, 'Michael Allen' at the email address 'michael@hawthorneassociatesols.co.uk' to arrange for documentation and release of funds in relation to an inheritance.

The SRA has also seen an email purportedly sent by 'Michael Allen' at 'Hawthorne & Associates Solicitors' from the email address 'hawthorneasols@consultant.com' which asks the recipient to provide information to enable the release of the purported funds.

This second email gives the purported address of 'Hawthorne & Associates Solicitors' as '204-5 Dean St, Portland Square, St Paul's, Bristol, BS2 8SF'. The following phone numbers are also listed '+ 44 (0) 7440 695 683' and '+ 44 (0) 742 445 3727'.

The SRA does not authorise or regulated a firm of solicitors called 'Hawthorne and Associates Solicitors'.

Any business or transaction through the above email addresses, phone numbers or 'Hawthorne and Associates' is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Michael David Allen. The genuine solicitor is employed at the firm Haywood Lunn & Allen Ltd.  

The genuine solicitor has confirmed that they do not have any connection to the details 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.