Regulator says “Legale Padovan” is not authorised in England and Wales and misused details of genuine London firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a warning after individuals posing as a law firm contacted members of the public claiming they could recover lost investment funds.
The regulator said correspondence had been sent under the name “Legale Padovan”, offering assistance with the supposed recovery of investment money. The SRA confirmed that no firm of solicitors with that name is authorised or regulated in England and Wales.
The communications seen by the regulator included what appeared to be legal documentation, including a purported contract and a power of attorney bearing registration numbers. The materials also referred to an individual identified as “Nesti Walter” and directed recipients to a website and contact details, including UK mobile and WhatsApp numbers.
According to the regulator, the documents misused the address of genuine law firms based at 36 Alie Street in London, an address used by legitimate practices. Both Luris Vince Solicitors Limited and Barclay Solicitors Limited, which operate from that location, confirmed they have no connection with the matter.
The SRA also said that a legitimate Italian practice called Studio Legale Padovan had confirmed it has no link to the website or individuals involved in the correspondence.
The regulator warned that any business conducted through the email addresses, website or telephone numbers associated with the purported firm is not undertaken by an authorised legal practice.
Scams involving individuals impersonating solicitors or law firms have become a recurring issue for the regulator. Fraudsters often mimic the identity or contact details of legitimate legal practices in order to gain trust and persuade victims to transfer money or provide sensitive information.
The SRA advises anyone receiving unexpected legal correspondence to verify the identity of the sender by contacting the firm directly using independently verified contact details. Consumers can also check whether a firm or solicitor is authorised through the regulator’s online register.
The alert forms part of the SRA’s ongoing efforts to warn both consumers and legal professionals about emerging fraud risks within the legal services market.