Alerts

Warning: Website misusing the details of Saunders & Partners LLP

18 July 2025

A website for a company called 'Prime Defender Group' is misusing the details of a genuine firm, Saunders & Partners LLP, and telephone calls are being made to members of the public by Prime Defender Group.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been notified that members of the public have been contacted via WhatsApp by a company called 'Prime Defender Group' regarding legal services, for the recovery of cryptocurrency funds. It has been reported that Prime Defender Group are asking members of the public to invest in cryptocurrency and then subsequently asking for further monies to release the original funds. The phone numbers that have been reported by the members of the public contacted by 'Prime Defender Group' are 07702 121 844 and 07957 723 294.

The SRA has seen the website reported 'primedefendergroup.com' which misuses the name of the genuine firm (see below for details of the genuine firm), and misuses their company number, SRA ID, and previous office address 'Temple Chambers 3-7 Temple Avenue, London, EC4Y 0DT'

The contact details associated with the website for 'Prime Defender Group' are + 44 204 542 8294 and the email address support@primedefendergroup.com

The website reported to the SRA also misuses the name of three genuine SRA authorised and regulated solicitors Matthew Purcell, Nia Williams and Cyrilia Knight (see below) who are employed by the genuine firm.

The SRA does not authorise or regulate a firm of solicitors called 'Prime Defender Group'.

Any business or transaction through 'Prime Defender Group' or through the above email address or phone number 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 Saunders & Partners LLP, whose SRA ID is 622823. The genuine firm's head office address is Ground Floor, Hind House, 2-3 Hind Court, London, EC4A 3DL. The firm's genuine website is www.saunders.co.uk and its email domain ends with @saunders.co.uk. The contact number for the firm is 02076 324 300.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Nia Jane Williams, whose SRA ID is 400602 and who is employed as a Partner at Saunders & Partners LLP.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Matthew Purcell, whose SRA ID is 509317 and who is also employed as a Partner at Saunders & Partners LLP.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Cyrilia Knight, whose SRA ID is 452007 and who is also employed as a Partner at Saunders & Partners LLP.

The genuine firm of solicitors, Saunders & Partners LLP and the genuine solicitors, Nia Jane Williams, Matthew Purcell and Cyrilia Knight have confirmed that they do not have any connection to 'Prime Defender Group' or any of the above contact details and documents referred to in this 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.