Alerts

Warning: Trademark emails misusing the name of Nicholas Fox

16 December 2025

Emails regarding purported trademarking applications have been sent to a member of the public, misusing the name of a genuine solicitor.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that emails have been sent misusing the name of a genuine solicitor (see below) in relation to supposed trademark applications.

The emails inform the recipient about a competing company initiating a trademark filing with the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) to register the same name. The email invites the recipient to secure trademark registration of the company name and offers to assist with this process. The recipient is then encouraged to respond to the email address 'nicholas@iporegisteruk.com'. The telephone number provided in the email is '+44 20 3780 5401' and the address is '233 Great Portland St, London, W1W 5PF'.

There is also a website operating at 'https://iporegisteruk.com/index.html'. The telephone number provided within the website is '020 4525 6348'.

Any business or transaction through the above contact details or website 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 solicitor called Nicholas Fox, whose genuine SRA ID number is 485932 who is a Partner at Mathys & Squire LLP.

Nicholas Fox has confirmed that they do not have any connection to the email 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.