Alerts
Warning: Emails misusing the name of Charles Armstrong of Latham & Watkins (London) LLP
6 March 2025
Emails have been sent misusing the name of Charles Armstrong of Latham & Watkins (London) LLP in relation to payment for supposedly overdue invoices.
What is the scam?
Emails have been sent misusing the name of a genuine solicitor of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below) requesting payment for supposedly overdue invoices. On one occasion we understand that the recipient received a supposed invoice which provided bank details for payment. A copy of the invoice seen by the SRA misuses the postal address and website address of the genuine firm (see below).
The SRA has been informed that the emails were sent from the following email addresses:
- rwallin@new.rr.com
- ciccarello@adam.com.au
- weumc@earthlink.net
- armstrong@lwatkinsllp.com
Any business or transaction through the email addresses listed above is not undertaken by a firm or solicitor authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a firm of solicitors called Latham & Watkins (London) LLP. The firm's head office address is 99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XF. The firm's website is www.lw.com.
The SRA authorises and regulates Charles Armstrong, a solicitor, who is a Partner at Latham & Watkins (London) LLP. Emails from the genuine firm use the domain @lw.com.
Latham & Watkins (London) LLP has confirmed that neither it, nor Charles Armstrong have any connection to the emails 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.