Alerts

Warning: Website for Portman Ross misusing the name of Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (CEL Solicitors)

22 November 2024

The website 'www.portmanross.com' is operating misusing the name of Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (CEL Solicitors).

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that a website at ‘www.portmanross.com' is operating misusing the Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (CEL Solicitors).

The website provides an address of '30 Gresham St, London EC2V 7QP', as well at two further addresses in Canada and Dubai. The website also provides a telephone number of ‘+44 1224459021' and an email address of ‘info@portmanross.com' .

The website misuses the name and address of a genuine firm of solicitors and the name of a genuine solicitors and a staff member of the genuine firm (see below).

The website displays the SRA digital badge.

The SRA does not authorise and regulate a firm of solicitors called ‘Portman Ross'. 

Any business or transaction through the website at ‘www.portmanross.com' 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 firm of solicitors called Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited, which trades as CEL Solicitors based at 12th Floor, 20 Chapel Street, Liverpool, L3 9AG. The genuine email domain used by the firm is @celsolicitors.co.uk. The firm's website address is www.celsolicitors.co.uk. The telephone number is 0151 909 8212.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitors called Karen Birch and Jessica Hampson who are both Directors of Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited.

Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited employs a staff member called Elle Yates.

Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited has confirmed that they do not have any connection to the website at 'www.portmanross.com'.

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.