There can be few people who can claim to have been with the same law firm for more than 46 years.

What is even more remarkable about Karen Powell, the head receptionist at south Wales firm Harding Evans, is that she is following a similar path to her mother Yvonne.

Indeed, Karen has even now surpassed Yvonne, who joined the firm in 1945 and was secretary to the senior partner until she retired 1990.

Karen’s epic stint began in 1979 when she joined as an office junior. The role in those days involved making in-person deliveries to businesses across Newport before getting on with the photocopying.

Such loyalty has brought lifelong friends made through work – and career satisfaction from helping the firm expand to what it is today.

‘I’ve been here through recessions; I’ve been here through good times, bad times. I’ve seen technology change and the firm grow – there were 18 people at Harding Evans when I started and now there are well over 100, split across two offices!

‘Every time a client or a member staff says thank you, you know that you have helped them. It’s lovely greeting our clients, many of whom have become familiar faces over the years. It’s also nice when a client comes in who we acted for a few years back and they are glad to still see me on the front desk.

‘That said, it does make you feel old when you are seeing the children of long-standing clients come in, because they are now buying houses!’

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