Alerts

Warning: Correspondence misusing the name of Alexis Martinez and the firm name Watson Farley & Williams LLP

9 June 2026

Correspondence has been sent misusing the name Alexis Martinez and the firm name Watson Farley & Williams LLP regarding purported ongoing acquisitions.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen an email purporting to be sent from a genuine solicitor (see below for details). The email seen by the SRA states 'Alexis Martinez' is the 'legal and tax advisor to Transaction Capital' and is overseeing the legal and tax aspects of the acquisition transaction.

The email was sent from the email address 'alexismartinez@wfw-ma.com' and had a signatory of Alexis Martinez, Partner, Watson Farley & Williams. It displays the name Watson Farley & Williams, telephone number +44 7537 168910, website wfw.com and postal address 15 Appold Street. London, EC2A 2HB, UK.

The SRA has also seen WhatsApp messages sent from +44 7514 953973 which was supposedly sent to clarify which European entity could be used for payment. Additional messages were sent from +1 (615) 607 1447 and +39 350 840 0096. A message from +1 (615) 607 1447 asked the recipient to reach out to Adv. Martinez who was overseeing the project. The messages from +39 350 840 0096 told the recipient to expect contact from Alexis Martinez and shared a contact entry which misused the genuine Alexis Martinez's photograph.

Any business or transaction through the email address or telephone numbers above 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 Alexis Martinez (SRA ID 447496). Alexis Martinezis a partner at the genuine solicitor's firm Watson Farley & Williams LLP (SRA ID 420646).

Watson Farley & Williams LLP uses the email domain @wfw.com. The firm's telephone number is 02078148000, website www.wfw.com and head office address 15 Appold Street, London, EC2A 2HB, England

Watson Farley & Williams LLP has confirmed that neither they nor Alexis Martinez has any connection to the matter raised 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.