Scam emails misuse Charles Alexis Gorman’s name and SRA number
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a public warning after scam emails were circulated, misusing the name and regulatory details of a genuine solicitor.
The emails claim to be from a firm called “Charles Gorman Legal” and relate to a supposed trademark application. Recipients are told that the sender is assisting a third party with registering a company name already used by them. The correspondence invites the recipient to secure trademark protection for their company name and logo and offers assistance with the process.
The SRA confirmed that the emails misuse the name and SRA number of Charles Alexis Gorman, a genuine solicitor regulated by the authority. The email seen by the regulator was sent from the address charles@charlesgormanlegal.com and included the website charlesgormanlegal.com.
The regulator has stated that it does not authorise or regulate any firm called “Charles Gorman Legal”. It has further warned that any business or transaction conducted through the above email address or website is not undertaken by a firm or solicitor authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Charles Alexis Gorman, whose SRA number is 27285, has confirmed that he has no connection with the emails, the email address or the website referred to in the alert.
The SRA has advised members of the public and businesses to exercise caution where a firm’s or individual’s identity appears to have been copied or cloned. Fraudsters frequently adopt the names and regulatory details of genuine solicitors in order to create a false sense of legitimacy.
Anyone receiving correspondence claiming to be from the above firm or individual, or containing similar information, is urged to verify its authenticity independently. The regulator recommends contacting the law firm directly using reliable and established contact details, rather than relying on information provided in unsolicited emails.
Members of the public can also check whether a solicitor or firm is authorised and regulated by contacting the SRA and verifying practising details. Additional checks, such as reviewing company records or publicly available contact information, may also assist in identifying cloned communications.
The SRA has made clear that the firm name, email address and website referenced in the warning are not connected to the genuine solicitor whose identity has been misused.