Newport’s determined drive to ‘re-invent’ itself isn’t only attracting an influx of external investors, intent on transforming the urban landscape. The enterprising spirit of the city’s Ł600m regeneration programme is also doing much to fuel the growth ambitions of leading companies already established there.

Prominent among this vibrant new wave is law firm Harding Evans which has been serving Newport’s residents and businesses since 1871, when the city was at the height of its powers as a hotspot of Wales’ golden industrial era.


Despite this longevity, it is only in the past decade – and particularly in the last six years – that the firm has begun to experience rapid growth and see its profile and reputation develop on a level with its larger competitors.
In the early to mid 1990s its entire staff numbered less than 30. Today there are more than 120 as the firm moves quickly to meet changing client demands in the local and regional economy. It recently increased its partnership from nine to 12, and plans to expand this further to 18 by 2010. Total staff numbers by that stage are expected to reach more than 200.

However, as managing partner, Zep Bellavia, is quick to point out, this is not a question of a Newport legal practice seeking to mimic its ‘big city’ counterparts in Cardiff or Bristol. Harding Evans is, he maintains, more interested in expanding by bringing the smaller city ethos of strong and sustainable client relationships to the wider regional and national market.

He explained: “Newport is a very individual market, characterized by long term relationships where understanding of client needs is built up over many years, even generations. Going forward, we want to be distinguished by the quality of our client service and treating all clients as we would like to be treated ourselves.”

Harding Evans has even represented one prominent Newport builders’ supplier since the 1800’s, adapting to that firm’s growth and development over many centuries!

The law firm has responded to changing patterns of market demand by developing a wide spectrum of specialist disciplines, for both private and commercial clients. There are now more than 20 distinct areas of the law delivered under one roof at the firm’s Newport city centre base.

These range from employment law, commercial property and debt recovery through to family law, inheritance tax planning and dispute resolution.

The firm’s twin-tracked strategy has been to become more competitive by using technology and better processes to streamline the delivery of high volume work, such as conveyancing, while at the same time expanding its capability to deliver specialist high value commercial work.

Economic vibrancy in Newport and across South East Wales is expected to fuel both sides of this strategy, for example as more homes are built and change hands and more business comes to the regenerated city.

In order to continue delivering the best service possible to clients the firm regularly strengthens its team through a combination of training new lawyers and recruiting big-hitting specialists from high profile practices in Cardiff and elsewhere.

Not many years ago Newport’s poor image made it difficult to attract such accomplished professionals. Now that’s changing, thanks in part to the city’s regeneration plans, said Mr Bellavia.

He added: “Top quality people are also drawn to a smaller but growing firm like ours because they know they will have the opportunity to make much more of an impact than within a larger firm. We also offer a better work-life balance than they have experienced elsewhere. That’s good for both staff and clients.”

The same trend is reflected in the quality of new entrants. More than 200 well-qualified graduates routinely apply for the handful of trainee places available each year, allowing Harding Evans to cherry-pick the brightest and best.

The firm’s managing partner believes Newport has the ability to develop a strong business services sector as the city’s reputation grows and becomes a better platform for existing and new professional firms to sell their services to wider regional and national markets.

Harding Evans has already shown the way to other service firms in the city. Thanks to its enterprising approach over the past six years, it has now become the eighth largest law firm in Wales and in 2004/05 earned the prestigious accolade “Welsh Law Firm of the Year.”