Jackson Walker trial partner Curt Langley of Houston was more than surprised to learn recently that his headshot appears on the website of Houston estate planning firm Walsh & Padilla, where he is identified as name partner Jonathan Walsh.

Langley quickly sprung into action, setting off a series of events that include the filing of a lawsuit by the Houston Bar Association alleging Walsh & Padilla is a fictitious firm, the launching of an investigation into the website by the Supreme Court of Texas Unauthorized Law Committee, and the issuing of a consumer warning from the State Bar of Texas.

“This one is really egregious,” said John Sirman, legal counsel for the State Bar of Texas. “These scams are frustrating and are often overseas people and hard to reach and shut down.”