Today 7/30, I spoke with an investigator from the FL Bar Association. They are aware of this scam that uses a FL-based address, but isn’t even located in the USA. It is based in Montreal Canada.
Both the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other law enforcement authorities are after these people who are very smooth and have scammed many people of their hard-earned money.
In 2007 I made an investment in a gas & oil partnership (Team Resources Kansas Select Gas & Oil #1, LP) that didn’t work out and was probably a fraudulent deal. I was contacted on July 22, by an attorney representing a class action group who has told me that various government entities are after the original general partner and the GP is offering to settle for 70% of the investment to avoid potential criminal charges from the group represented by Kirkland Associates. The law firm’s fee is 20% and I will receive 50% of my original investment.
The individual said that his name is Gordon Downey and that there’s more than $11million in escrow being held by the firm from liquidation. I have spoken to the law firm several times, Kirkland & Associates (www.kirklandassociates.com) in Hollywood, FL 2719 Hollywood Blvd, # 161, Hollywood, FL 33020; Phone Toll Free: 1-888-364-1117 extension 3. There is no one at this location. It is a mail drop only.
Their associate attorney is Gordon Downey and I have spoken to him several times and he seemed to be legitimate and professional sounding. He told me that I could use another law firm but he stated that his firm has an advantageous position in terms of their relationship with the IRS. I had no problem with their fee because I may not have learned of it absent his contacting me.
In the attached documentation they have requested a $4200. Escrow Deposit that will be refunded if the deal does not materialize. Gordon indicated that they may be able to reduce the amount of the deposit and I received an offer of a reduced amount of $3,000. on 7/29.
After meeting with my attorney in today, I discovered that the firm is not a member of the FL Bar and none of the people listed on their website is known to the FL Bar Association. The individuals are Phillip Kirkland and Gordon Downey. I suspect that these people are fictitious. There is nothing about either of them on the web that I can find. And, I also called the FL Bar to confirm the web info.
Firm Website: http://www.kirklandassociates.com/firmresume.htm
Phillip Kirkland & Associates: http://www.kirklandassociates.com/attorneys.htm
When my attorney requested their FL Bar ID#, the communications stopped today. I called the Hollywood FL Police today and told them that I felt that a crime is being committed by these people at this address. They sent an officer Gratz to the location, 2719 Hollywood Blvd, #161, Hollywood. Officer Gratz called me and said that these individuals and this law firm are unknown at this location. The space is rented by Cordell Legal which is mentioned in complaints below from www.ripoffreport.com.
The website: www.kirklandassociates.comis owned by Andrew Biggs ([email protected], 252 SHERBROOKE W, Tech City: MONTREAL, Tech State/Province: QC, Tech Postal Code: H2X 1X9, Tech Country: CA, Tech Phone: +1.5145503867
When I noticed that “Gordon Downey” has a Canadian accent, he countered that he grew up in Buffalo, NY.
Based upon what I have discovered, I believe that a large criminal enterprise is being conducted. I believe that these people are operating from out of the US, in Canada.
There is a strong possibility that Kirkland Associates and Cordell Legal are one and the same fraudulent entities. Cordell has taken down its list of lawyers on their website. One of the referrals on Cordell’s website mentions the lawyer “Phillip” who is probably the “Phillip” in Kirkland Associates.