Alerts

Warning: Emails falsely claiming to be from Instalaw Limited

11 September 2025

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from Robert Welsh of Instalaw Limited.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from Robert Welsh of Instalaw Limited.

The bogus emails appeared as if sent from the genuine email address of a solicitor and director at the genuine firm.

We understand that the emails had the subject header 'One of your contacts from your directory has shared a PDF document with you' and invited the recipients to view an invoice by clicking on a link in the email. A concern is that the emails may have contained malware, or a link to malware.

The emails misuse the name of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The emails also misuse the name of a solicitor and director of the firm (see below).

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Instalaw Limited.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Robert Welsh who is a solicitor and director at the firm.

The genuine firm has confirmed that neither the firm not Robert Welsh have any genuine and intended 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.