Alerts

Warning: Website falsely claiming to be for a law firm called 'Brooks & Partners'

21 January 2025

A website at 'www.brooksandpartnersfirm.com' is operating and claiming to be for a law firm called 'Brooks & Partners'.

What is the scam?

A website at 'www.brooksandpartnersfirm.com' is operating and claiming to be for a law firm called 'Brooks & Partners'.

The website seen by the SRA falsely advises that 'Brooks & Partners' is a trading name of a genuine firm of solicitors. The website misuses the SRA ID numbers of the genuine firm and also misuses the trading name of a genuine firm that closed in 2022 (see below). The website provides the telephone numbers '+1 (44)-695-1962 54' and '0712554745', the email addresses 'brooksandpartner@brooksandpartnersfirm.com' and 'office@brooksandpartnersfirm.com' and a fax number of '+8 (123) 456 789'.

The website also provides a list of 'Attorneys' who are referred to as consultant solicitors by the names of 'Amanda Shelly', 'Gerard Fritz', 'James Milner', 'Melinda Paige', 'Nigel Hatridge', 'Ziyaad Byat', and 'Dwayne Chanhan'.

The SRA does not authorise or regulate a firm of solicitors called 'Brooks & Partners'. The SRA also does not authorise or regulate solicitors with the above exact names, although some may be close to the names of genuine solicitors. The website also appears to misuse the photographs of some genuine individuals.

Any business or transaction through the website 'www.brooksandpartnersfirm.com' or the above contact details 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 firm of solicitors called Healys LLP, with the SRA numbers 510079 (for its head office in London) and 511205 (for a branch office in Brighton). The firm's website is www.healys.com. Healys LLP has confirmed that it has no connection to the above website.

The SRA did previously authorise and regulate a genuine firm called MB Legal Services Limited, which traded as Brooks & Partners Solicitors until closing in 2022. None of the genuine solicitors previously working at that genuine firm are believed to be connected to the website 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.