Alerts
Warning: Correspondence misusing the name and details of Mills & Reeve LLP and Ahmed Patel and Ishika Patel
27 February 2026
Correspondence has been sent misusing the name and details of Mills & Reeve LLP and Ahmed Patel and Ishika Patel in relation to a visa application and accounts assistance services.
What is the scam?
A member of the public received emails and a letter misusing the name and details of a genuine firm of solicitors and of genuine solicitors (see below). One of the emails seen by the SRA is in relation to a purported 'Skilled Worker Visa Application' and it was purportedly sent from 'Ahmed Patel' with the position of 'Paralegal Solicitor' in the email signature. The email was sent from a bogus email address 'ahmed.patel@millsandreevesolicitor.com'.
The SRA has been informed that emails were also sent from a bogus email address 'miles@millsandreevessolicitior.com'.
The genuine firm of solicitors Birmingham branch office address (see below) was also misused in a postage stamp.
The letter seen by the SRA misuses the logo of the genuine firm of solicitors (see below) purporting to be a 'client care letter for accounts assistant services' to 'complete a pre-assessment'. The letter invites the recipient to sign and return it. The letter is signed by 'Ishika Patel', purporting to be a 'Director' at the genuine firm of solicitors (see below).
Any business or transaction through the above email addresses and letter 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 Mills & Reeve LLP. The genuine address of the firm's head office is 8th Floor, 24 King William Street, London, EC4R 9AT. The genuine email domain of the firm is @mills-reeve.com and the genuine address of the Birmingham branch office is One Centenary Way, Birmingham, B3 3AY.
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Ahmed Patel who is employed as a solicitor at the genuine firm Mills & Reeve LLP. The SRA number for the genuine solicitor is 610104.
The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Ishika Patel who is not a Director at the genuine firm Mills & Reeve LLP. The SRA number for the genuine solicitor is 584508.
The genuine firm and the genuine solicitors have confirmed they have no connection to the correspondence and email addresses 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.