Our Team

Zep Bellavia LLB Hons
Managing Director

Zep has been a qualified solicitor since 1986 and is one of Wales’ top litigators, relied upon by many high-profile clients. Having previously spent 20 years running one of Wales’s largest law firms, Zep manages the company on a day-to-day basis and liaises with all our associated firms & experts.

He is known as a fearless fighter in his client’s cases who loves the challenges of unravelling complex legal situations, whether that be multi-million £ commercial disputes, employment matters, insolvency, family disputes or crime defences. His vast experience, work ethic and integrity ensures our clients receive the best service, legal solutions and value for money possible.

Zep’s passion is winning cases for his clients and mentoring his team.

Always looking to put something back into the local communities his business serves, Zep is also the elected Chair of the Board of Directors of Newport’s Business Improvement District, which represents over 600 local businesses.

A dedicated family man with his partner, two sons, a dog and two cats, Zep is also a lifelong supporter of Chelsea FC and until recently an enthusiastic football player!

Craig Shipp LLB
Head of Litigation

Craig has worked in the legal sector since 2004 and qualified as a Solicitor in 2008. Craig is a tenacious litigator who thrives on resolving complex legal problems to the satisfaction of his Clients. Craig’s work covers all aspects of Commercial Law and his innate tendency for detail lends itself well also to drafting agreements, leases and deeds. Craig prides himself on delivering quality work on a commercial basis. Above all, Craig loves helping others.

Married with twin girls, Risca native Craig enjoys playing, watching, talking and breathing football. Craig listens to a wide variety of music and loves attending gigs and festivals. In any spare time that is not spent walking the dog, Craig likes to brew his own beer, with varying degrees of success!

Our Team

Claire Davis
Specialist Consultant

Claire was born and lives in Newport. She was educated at Cheltenham Ladies College before attending reading university to read LLB Law, where she was awarded the Maxwell Law Prize for obtaining the top degree in her year. After completing her Law Society finals at Guildford, she returned to Newport to train as a Solicitor at the family firm, Le Brasseur Davis & Sons, under the guidance of her father and uncle, Gilbert and Tom Davis, who have been well known and highly respected Solicitors for many years. Claire qualified in 1985 and continued to practice in Newport, successfully combining her working life with the challenges of bringing up two children. She took over the family firm in 1997, specialising in Wills, Probate, Estate Planning and Elderly Client work.

She is the only Welsh Director of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, a national organisation of lawyers specialising in looking after the needs of clients in later life, and is extremely proud of the work they do and her role in the organisation. The organisation has a national and local voice, ensuring the concerns and needs of Carers, the vulnerable, and those in later life represented by bodies such as the Court of Protection and Office of the Public Guardian.

Keira Mruk LLB (Hons) LLM
Solicitor

Keira completed her Law Degree at Swansea University and is also a graduate of the University of South Wales obtaining a Master’s degree in Legal Practice. During her studies at USW she volunteered as a student advisor at the Legal Advice Clinic, providing legal advice on all areas of the law. She assists on a wide variety of matters. Ensuring a client has a quality customer experience is of great importance to Keira.

A keen ‘foodie’, when she is not eating out or reading food blogs Keira can be found in the kitchen experimenting with new dishes that are sometimes a success. She also enjoys walking her English bulldog named Rocco in the countryside and regularly attending the gym.

Olivia Murphy LLB (Hons) LLM
Trainee Solicitor

Olivia obtained her Law Degree at Cardiff University and subsequently graduated from The University of Law with a Master of Laws in Professional Legal Practice. Her specialist interests are within the sectors of Corporate and Commercial Law and she assists with a wide variety of matters, ensuring client satisfaction and a quality experience. Olivia’s keen eye for detail and ability to understand the intricacies of each corporate transaction enables her to handle such with professionalism and efficiency. 

Health and fitness are keen interests, with Liv regularly visiting the gym, running, and learning to play golf. She was raised in a car enthusiast family and so also has a passion for motor cars and Formula 1. Liv thoroughly enjoys fine dining with great wine whether it be in nice restaurants or cooking at home.

Megan Hicks LLB
Legal Assistant

Megan has been working in the legal sector since May 2021, gaining valuable experience in a number of fields of law.

She completed her Law Degree at Aberystwyth University and is also a graduate of the University of South Wales where she successfully completed her Legal Practice Course. During her time at Aberystwyth, Megan volunteered at a Family Law Clinic, offering a range of support to extremely vulnerable clients.  She did likewise with the Legal Advice Clinic whilst at the University of South Wales.

Megan now works principally in family, wills & estate matters and prides herself on providing a quality client experience.

Outside of work, Megan loves to spend time with her family, including her Dachshund, Tucker! You will also find her shouting on the sidelines at her local rugby club's matches most weekends. 

Caroline Walker FMAAT
Finance Director

Caroline has been an Accountant since 2004, having previously spent 12 years with Northgate PLC, being heavily involved with developing systems, compliance, audit, staff management and training.

Caroline now enjoys the buzz and challenges of the legal sector, taking responsibility for financial administration of the legal team who get the cash in for our clients. She prides herself on quickly transferring it back out to our happy clients!

Caroline’s job remit also covers the HR function and sometimes walking of Zeus our head of Security and Wellbeing!

Outside of work Caroline loves spending time with the family, a wide circle of friends. Caroline has many interests from self -improvement to her recent interest in colouring in!.

Max Bellavia
Practice Manager

Max has been with our firm since we opened in 2018. He has assisted in the growth of the business from the outset and learnt some amazing skills along the way. Max deals with all of our Office Management issues such as keeping all our IT systems up to date, purchasing & managing our office needs & supporting the team with their deadlines. Max also has a passion for recovering money for our clients in the most efficient and effective way possible and therefore assists on many of our clients’ debt recovery cases, issuing claims, entering judgements & taking enforcement steps.

Outside of work Max has recently moved out of his family home, taking his 1st step on the property ladder. He loves to watch and talk about football at any point possible and is absolutely obsessed with combustion engine cars.