Alerts

Warning: Website misusing the name and details of 'SCE Solicitors Ltd', James Sidney Haddleton and Deborah Jane Mactaggart

10 June 2026

A website was operating and misusing the name and details of 'SCE Solicitors Ltd' and the names of James Sidney Haddleton and Deborah Jane Mactaggart.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed of and has reviewed a website 'www.scesoli.com' which was operating on a domain registered through Cosmotown, Inc and was misusing the details of 'SCE Solicitors Ltd' as well as the names of genuine solicitors (see genuine details below).

The website referred to a firm named 'SCE Solicitors'. The website provided an email address of 'info@scesoli.com' and an address of Park Square E, Leeds, LS1 2LH, United Kingdom.

The website mentioned a team of five individuals: James Sidney Haddleton, 'Stephen Blake', Deborah Jane Mactaggart, 'Harry Blackwood' and 'Jim Sherwood'. It also mentions Deborah Jane Mactaggart and Jim Sherwood are associates of 'Henry Clark & Partners'.

At the time this alert was issued, the website was no longer accessible and appears to have been taken down.

The SRA does not authorise or regulate individual solicitors named 'Harry Blackwood' and 'Jim Sherwood' or a firm named 'Henry Clark & Partners'.

Any business or transactions through the website address www.scesoli.com is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorised and regulated a genuine firm called SCE Solicitors Ltd (Company Regn number 07921106) which ceased trading on 31 October 2023. They were acquired by Haddleton & Co Ltd in April 2022

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Haddleton & Co Ltd (SRA ID 640278). The genuine firm uses the email domain @haddletons.com and the genuine firm's website is www.haddletons.com. Its trading style is "Haddletons."

The SRA authorises and regulates the genuine solicitors named James Sidney Haddleton (SRA ID 164701) and Deborah Jane Mactaggart (SRA ID 128147) who work at Haddleton & Co Ltd.

The SRA previously authorised and regulated a genuine solicitor name Stephen Blake, who is no longer on the Roll of solicitors.

The genuine firm Haddleton & Co Ltd and the genuine solicitors James Sidney Haddleton and Deborah Jane Mactaggart have confirmed that they have no involvement or connection to the website 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.