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This is an educational series where I help everyone understand basic due diligence, especially when it comes to misleading claims made by individuals in the legal profession. Today, we’ll focus on Cal Evans, the head of Gresham International, and his repeated misrepresentations regarding the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA).
I. Introduction
Much like the confusion surrounding the American Bar Association’s role in the U.S., Cal Evans has attempted to mislead the public into believing that the Commonwealth Lawyers Association is a regulatory body. (https://archive.ph/SudRN; please note that this is one of the infamous allegedly infringing articles that Evans claimed on DMCA takedown notice and more on that here: PART VIII: Cal Evans’ Disgraceful Attempt to Use the DMCA to Remove Content on this Website & His New Signature Line, https://dunsmoorlaw.com/2024/09/09/part-viii-cal-evans-disgraceful-attempt-to-use-the-dmca-to-remove-content-on-this-website-his-new-signature-line/) This article aims to expose this deliberate deception and clarify what the CLA actually is — a voluntary membership organization, not a regulatory authority.
II. The Misleading Claims
Cal Evans, through his firm Gresham International, falsely asserts that his legal services are “regulated” by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. This statement is not only misleading but outright false, as confirmed directly by the CLA itself. As seen in this email, they state that the CLA “is not a regulatory body but a membership association for Commonwealth Lawyers.”
(Source: DMCA complaint from Cal Evans of Gresham International on August 26, 2024 and email from CLA: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8hep54v2o9gt8zcmv68av/Commonwealth-Lawyers-Association-Email-Confirmation.pdf?rlkey=a3zmh5jpomddpz1i9sg4l2zrp&st=pu8h8dyc&dl=0)
Much like claiming regulation by the American Bar Association, which Evans has done in the past and still does on his website, he is banking on the public’s lack of understanding of legal institutions. This tactic is designed to lend credibility where none exists, and it’s essential to recognize these red flags especially given that he has been doing it for years.
(Source: Aubit Legal Opinion, March 2020, here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jld3c4yv9z0mz0vax5zsv/Exhibi-A-Aubit-Legal-Opinion-March-2020.pdf?rlkey=f46efwl8a4j8b8fulbz0cq4nl&st=5bsl5zkd&dl=0; Note that Gresham International is not regulated by the Ukraine Bar Association either, as its not a Ukrainian regulator.) Please note he is being sued for fraud in relationship to the Aubit/Freeway scam: https://www.aubitfreewaylawsuits.com/whatcalsaid/
(Source: Ardana Legal Opinion, August 17, 2021, here:https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1mrhy2sx67xzxo7it404z/Exhibit-B-Ardana-Legal-Opinion-August-2021.pdf?rlkey=1pqmhvczul0pjazyjyojf4ebx&st=6szewbqj&dl=0; Notice the change to the “Ukraine Bar” which is still not the Ukrainian regulator and the addition of “Commonwealth Lawyers Association.”)
(Source: Naka Legal Opinion, September 2021, here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/af9b6h8w49ymqs5md0p7b/Exhibit-C-Nakamoto-Legal-Opinion-September-2021.pdf?rlkey=csl0r8o5que6wb3j85usddtrz&st=4eb9w6hc&dl=0; Notice the “Ukraine Bar” false claim is still there as well as “Commonwealth Lawyers Association.”)
III. What is the Commonwealth Lawyers Association?
The Commonwealth Lawyers Association is a membership-based organization that provides networking, educational opportunities, and advocacy for legal practitioners across the Commonwealth. It is not, and has never been, a regulatory authority. It does not have the power to license, discipline, or regulate attorneys.
Key points about the CLA:
- It is a voluntary membership organization, not a regulatory authority.
- It offers resources and networking for lawyers within Commonwealth nations.
- It does not have the legal power to oversee or discipline members.
IV. The Actual Role of Regulatory Bodies
Just like in the U.S., where the regulation of attorneys is handled at the state level (not by the American Bar Association), lawyers in Commonwealth countries are regulated by their respective national or local authorities — not by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. Each country has its own bar or legal oversight body that holds the actual regulatory authority.
For example, in the United Kingdom, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) governs the conduct of solicitors, while the Bar Standards Board (BSB) regulates barristers, and Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), is supposed to regulate CILEx Chartered Legal Executives like Cal Evans of Gresham International. Similarly, in Australia and Canada, regulatory bodies such as the Law Society of New South Wales or the Law Society of Ontario serve that purpose on a local level instead of national level.
These regulatory authorities are supposed to prevent fraudulent misrepresentations like this or enforce codes of ethics and restrict licensing requirements for practice within that jurisdiction.
V. Red Flags: Claims of CLA Regulation
The claim that Gresham International, or Cal Evans personally, is regulated by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association should set off alarm bells for any potential clients. Such claims are highly problematic because:
- They fundamentally misrepresent how attorney regulation works in the Commonwealth.
- They may intentionally mislead clients about oversight and accountability.
- They reflect a lack of understanding or intentional misrepresentation of basic legal structures.
VI. The Broader Pattern of Misrepresentation
Unfortunately, this is not the first instance of misleading claims from Cal Evans and Gresham International. As seen in the previous communications above, Evans has a habit of presenting himself as regulated by various legal or financial bodies that do not actually have regulatory oversight. This behavior is consistent with other misleading claims made on his firm’s website and in his communications with potential clients.
For instance, Evans has previously claimed to be licensed in the United States, Ukraine and Dubai, but again, none of these organizations regulate his services because he is not licensed there.
Wisconsin:
Ukraine: He’s not on the Unified Register of Advocated of Ukraine and, the Ukrainian Bar Association (“UBA”), like the American Bar Association and Commonwealth Lawyers Association are voluntary professional organizations not regulators. He is a member of the UBA like he could be the member of a gym.
Dubai:
His pattern of misrepresentation extends to multiple entities, and this undermines the trust that clients should be able to place in legal professionals. (Please note he does appear to be licensed by Dubai International Financial Centre (“DIFC”), however, given the history of misrepresentation, it is likely that he lied or misrepresented his practice as one cannot hold themselves out to be licensed in Dubai without being licensed by the Emirati of Dubai. More on this in a future article).
VII. What You Should Do
As a consumer of legal services, it’s vital to verify claims of regulation directly with the relevant authorities. Don’t rely on vague or misleading references to memberships or associations. Here’s how you can protect yourself:
- Google or Bing search: “(Jurisdiction) lawyer directory” or first start with a search of “Who regulates lawyers in “(jurisdiction). Then search their website for the specific name of the company or the name of the supposed lawyer like “Cal Evans.”
- Check with the proper regulatory body: Always verify the license status of a lawyer or firm through the actual regulatory authority in their jurisdiction. For example, in the UK, you can search for a lawyer’s credentials with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and if they are not on there, you can contact the authority directly. Though this may take awhile.
- Be wary of claims involving voluntary organizations: Membership in associations like the CLA or ABA does not equate to regulatory oversight. Any claims to the contrary should be viewed with skepticism, if not outright fraud.
- Ask for direct proof of regulation: A legitimate lawyer will be happy to provide proof of their regulatory standing, including licensing details and information about any regulatory bodies they are subject to.
VIII. Conclusion
Understanding the role of voluntary legal organizations like the Commonwealth Lawyers Association is essential to avoid being misled by false claims. Cal Evans and Gresham International have repeatedly attempted to present the CLA as a regulatory authority to lend credibility to their services, but this could not be further from the truth.
If you are considering working with a lawyer or legal firm, it’s critical to do your own due diligence. Ask the right questions, verify regulatory status, and don’t be fooled by claims of association with non-regulatory bodies like the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. Real accountability comes from legitimate state or national regulatory bodies, not voluntary organizations.
In closing, be vigilant, and remember that false claims of regulation, like those from Cal Evans, are serious red flags. Always seek out proper legal representation by verifying their credentials directly with the appropriate regulatory body.
Side Bar: In 2023, Evans tried to claim that my use of “Admission: Pennsylvania, pro hac vice 2013”, as seen here was “misleading”:
(Source: https://archive.ph/MwhMh; please note that this is one of the infamous and allegedly copyright “infringing” articles that Evans claimed on DMCA takedown notice and more on that here: PART VIII: Cal Evans’ Disgraceful Attempt to Use the DMCA to Remove Content on this Website & His New Signature Line, https://dunsmoorlaw.com/2024/09/09/part-viii-cal-evans-disgraceful-attempt-to-use-the-dmca-to-remove-content-on-this-website-his-new-signature-line/)
This could not be farther from the truth. Not only did I have a known and easily identifiable historical digital footprint at the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, I also had proof that this was in fact admitted utilizing PA’s own laws for admission and provided them to their investigator and lawyer (The Law; note the first word is “Admission.” Its an admission, albeit a temporary one which is what pro hac vice essentially means “for this occasion” or “this time only”).
To top this all off, unlike the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and American Bar Association that Evans claims to be regulated by, all lawyers in the United States can be charged with what is often called the “unauthorized” practice of law which generally entails a lawyer working in a jurisdiction or holding themselves out to work in a jurisdiction in which they do not have licensed, with limited exceptions for things like federal law practices. (More on this topic in a future article)
So, when compared to Evans actual claim that “Pennsylvania” was misleading, it is further proven false because the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania does in fact regulate me and technically any other lawyer who practices, attempts to practice, or holds themselves out to practice in Pennsylvania!
This is why I write these articles because it is incredibly important to understand how broken the American legal system is and how con men like Evans can use it to exploit others.