A Welsh law firm restructured its employment law department as it continues a recent period of growth.

Howells Solicitors, which has an office in Newport, has promoted an associate solicitor to head the new look department and recruited two solicitors and a paralegal to form a team providing a comprehensive range of employment law services.

David Lewis is the new head of department and is joined by experienced solicitors Gemma Bailey and Nayo Kirkpatrick, together with a new legal assistant Lucy Richards.

Gemma joins from another Cardiff law firm and brings with her a wealth of experience acting for large respondent clients and public sector bodies and will focus on litigation both for companies and individuals.

Nayo Kirkpatrick specialises in human resource management, including internal grievance and disciplinary issues, negotiating employee contracts and settlement agreements.

Lucy Richards has joined the team as a paralegal.

David Lewis said: “We have exceeded the three-year growth target set for the department within 18 months, and needed to restructure to accommodate for this growth and to also extend the range of services we provide for our clients. I am very pleased we have been able to recruit the calibre of solicitors we now have in the team and working together we provide a comprehensive range of specialist services for both individual and commercial clients.”

Managing director Mark Howells said: “We are an ambitious law firm that focuses on the service we provide. It’s never about the size of the business or the ego of the lawyer. We are here to help people and we never lose sight of that. We are continuing to grow and look forward to working with some of the most talented lawyers in the region to provide the best service to our clients.”