Fake law firm used suits star name and bogus SRA badge in scam flagged by legal watchdog
A fake law firm calling itself “LegalLens Law Firm” has been outed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for posing as a legitimate legal practice—complete with fabricated solicitors, a bogus digital badge, and one very familiar name: Mike Ross.
The SRA issued a formal warning on 27 May after discovering that the phoney firm’s website listed 13 so-called lawyers who are neither authorised nor regulated. Among these fictional profiles was “Mike Ross,” a name fans of the hit US legal drama Suits will instantly recognise.
According to the scam website, “Mike Ross” supposedly pivoted from corporate law into family and private client work, having worked his way to partnership over a three-decade career. The site claims Ross now leads the firm’s family law division. Of course, the real Mike Ross is a fictional character portrayed by actor Patrick J. Adams in Suits—a young genius who practised law without a degree, all while keeping his secret from the cutthroat world of New York legal elites.
This brazen reference to pop culture caught the attention of Legal Cheek, who noted the uncanny coincidence, if not outright trolling. The use of Ross’s name suggests the scammers may either be die-hard fans of the show or simply underestimated how recognisable the character is.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut the SRA isn’t laughing. It confirmed that LegalLens Law Firm is not and has never been authorised, and warned the public not to be misled by the website’s professional appearance. The site not only included full staff bios with headshots but also displayed a fake SRA “digital badge”—a security feature used by genuine law firms to confirm their regulated status.
Even more suspicious, the firm listed North American contact details despite claiming UK regulation. The SRA alert clarified that any emails, phone numbers, or messages sent to this operation are not connected to a legitimate firm and may expose users to fraud or identity theft.
A spokesperson for the regulator emphasised the dual danger such scams pose—not only to potential clients who might be duped, but also to real legal professionals whose names or likenesses might be misused. “We advise all solicitors and members of the public to verify firms using the official SRA Register before engaging services or sharing personal information,” the spokesperson said.
Online scams involving fake legal outfits have been on the rise, with criminals exploiting digital platforms to impersonate law firms, often copying names, logos, and even case summaries. In some cases, unsuspecting clients have transferred large sums of money to what they believed were solicitor trust accounts.
This particular case, though tinged with humour due to its Suits connection, serves as a serious reminder of the risks. The SRA said the alert aims to educate both lawyers and the general public about the increasing sophistication of legal scams, especially when references to popular culture may be used to lend credibility.
Legal professionals have been urged to monitor any misuse of their credentials online, and members of the public are encouraged to report suspicious firms to the SRA’s Red Alert system.
While “Mike Ross” may have outwitted Manhattan’s legal elite on screen, his fictional credentials don’t pass muster in the real world—and certainly not with Britain’s legal regulator.
