Alerts

Warning: Emails and invoices misusing the name of Andrew Nicholas and the name and details of Clyde & Co LLP

30 April 2026

Emails and invoices misusing the name of Andrew Nicholas and the name and details of Clyde & Co LLP in relation to purported unpaid invoices and providing false bank account details.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen emails that have been sent to companies based in Europe attaching invoices falsely purporting to be from a genuine firm of solicitors and falsely purporting to be signed by a genuine solicitor. (see below). The documents also provide false bank account details that are not associated with the genuine firm of solicitors.

Emails have been sent from 'Magdalena Balint' and 'Elizabeth Schiller' purporting to be debt collection agency employees in relation to collecting payments from unpaid invoices.

The emails were sent from the email addresses 'magdalena.balint@bvcmicollect.com' and 'elisabeth.schiller@universcollectin.com'.

The invoices displayed the address of 138 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AR, telephone numbers of '04 384 4000' and '+44 20 7876 5000'. The invoices also contain payment instructions directing the recipient to transfer the funds into a bank account bearing the name of a genuine firm of solicitors.

Any business or transaction through the email addresses and the documents described above are 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 Clyde & Co LLP (SRA ID 460690). The genuine firm uses the email domain @clydeco.com. Its head office is The St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AR and its genuine telephone number is 020 7876 5000.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Andrew Nicholas (SRA ID 14048) who is a Partner at Clyde & Co LLP.

The genuine Clyde & Co LLP and the genuine Andrew Nicholas have confirmed that they do not have any connection to the emails or invoices 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.