Award-winning law firm Harding Evans has appointed three new partners as it grows rapidly to meet changing client demand. The firm, which serves regional and national clients from its City of Newport base, has made the appointments in the key areas of employment law, personal injury and family law.

The 2004 Welsh Law Firm of the Year now has 12 partners and over 100 staff across a broad spectrum of commercial and private legal services. Within five years it expects to need 18 partners and a team of more than 200 to continue to deliver its legal services to its expanding client base.

Managing Partner Zep Bellavia explained, “Our clients include successful businesses from across Gwent, South Wales and further afield, as well as a very loyal base of private clients. Clients expect a first class service and expert advice and we are meeting this demand by continuing to develop one of the regions most respected, experienced and client focused team of lawyers.
 

“Newport is becoming a vibrant city, attracting unprecedented levels of investment that present major new opportunities for businesses across the whole region. We are strengthening our team in order to serve this growing market,” he added.

The three who have been promoted to the partnership are employment lawyer Stephen Jackson, family law specialist Suzanne Edwards and Andrew Christie, who deals with a range of personal injury claims.

Mr Bellavia said the promotion of these three well-established members of the Harding Evans team represents a major strengthening of the firm’s capacity in these key areas of the law.

Andrew Christie is well regarded by clients and other lawyers and is a Law Society accredited personal injury specialists, with expertise acquired from handling a broad spectrum of compensation claims, many running into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Suzanne Edwards is highly recommended as a family law specialist in the Legal 500 guide to the UK legal profession. She has handled many of the region’s largest and most challenging divorce cases and is particularly noted for her skills in achieving favourable financial settlements for clients.

Stephen Jackson, who heads the firm’s employment law team, advises and represents companies from across South Wales and the South West. He is rated in the Legal 500 for his expertise and the quality of the seminars he delivers to the business community.

Zep Bellavia added, “Harding Evans has developed its team to meet changing demand from clients and as a result we are now the eighth largest practice in Wales. We look forward to building on that and continuing to deliver to clients a professional and efficient service with some of the best legal advice available.”