Alerts
Warning: Emails misusing the name of 'Jonathan Roberts', 'Catherine Howard' and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
12 February 2026
Emails have been sent misusing the names 'Jonathan Roberts', 'Catherine Howard' and 'Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP'.
What is the scam?
The SRA has been advised that further emails have been sent misusing the names of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP and genuine individuals that work at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP.
The emails falsely claim to be from 'Jonathan Roberts', and 'Catherine Howard'.
The emails were sent from the following email domains and email addresses:
- CatherineHoward@hsfkramerglobalemea.com
- CatherineHoward@hsfkramerpartneremea.com
- CatherineHoward@hsfkramerpartners.com
Any business or transaction through 'Jonathan Roberts', and 'Catherine Howard' using the above email domains are 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 Herbert Smith Freehills LLP. The firm's email domain name is @hsf.com.
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Catherine Howard who is a Managing Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP.
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Jonathan Roberts who is a Senior Associate at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP.
The genuine firm has confirmed they have no connection to the emails 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.
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