Alerts

Warning: Correspondence misusing the name of Karen Shimmen and Cook Taylor Woodhouse Limited

10 November 2025

A letter has been sent from an individual purporting to be from a law firm called Cook Taylor Woodhouse Limited and also misuses the name of Karen Shimmen in relation to a notice of change of business address.

What is the scam?

A letter has been sent misusing the name of a genuine solicitor (see below) in relation to a business address change. The letter also misuses the name, address, SRA number and contact details of a genuine firm (see genuine details below).

The contact details provided in the letter was the firm's genuine address (see below), the firm's genuine contact number (see below), the firm's genuine website (see below) and email address 'shimmen@ctwsolicitors.co.uk'.

Any business or transaction through the above contact details 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 Cook Taylor Woodhouse Limited (SRA ID 606304). The genuine firm uses the genuine email domain @ctwsolicitors.co.uk and the genuine firm's website is ctwsolicitors.co.uk. Its head office is 68/70 High Street, Eltham, London, SE9 1BZ and contact number is 020 8859 0936.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Karen Dawn Shimmen (SRA ID 336509) whose genuine email address is Kshimmen@ctwsolicitors.co.uk and who is employed at Cook Taylor Woodhouse Limited.

The genuine firm Cook Taylor Woodhouse Limited and the genuine solicitor Karen Shimmen have both confirmed they have no connection to the letter referred to in the alert above.

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.