Alerts

Warning: Documents misusing the name of 'DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON LLP' and 'Drew Dutton'

20 June 2025

Documents have been sent misusing the name of 'DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON LLP' and ‘Drew Dutton’.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen documents purporting to be 'confidentiality agreements' which misuse the name and address of a genuine firm of solicitors, and the name of a genuine solicitor at the genuine firm (see below). The footers of these documents also misuse the SRA number of a separate genuine firm (see below).

The purported 'confidentiality agreements' were sent by email and requested the recipients contact 'Drew Dutton' on '0208 040 4242'. In one instance, the recipient was telephoned by someone purporting to be 'Drew Dutton' but they terminated the call when questioned.

Any business or transaction through the telephone number '0208 040 4242' 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 DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON LLP (SRA number: 264277). Its genuine address is 28 Tudor Street, London, EC4Y 0AY. Its genuine telephone number is 0207 786 9000 and its emails use the domain '@debevoise.com'.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Edward Drew Dutton (SRA number: 371365) who is a partner at DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON LLP.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Goodwin Procter (UK) LLP. Its genuine SRA number is 564695.

The genuine firms and individual have confirmed they have no connection to the documents or 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.