Member Article

Lifetime achievement award for Leeds lawyer

A well-known Leeds lawyer has has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the legal sector in a career spanning over half a century.

Christopher Lewis, who retired this summer from his role as a legal consultant based at Milners’ head office in Leeds, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement accolade at the prestigious Yorkshire Legal Awards 2017.

President of Leeds Law Society, Jeremy Shulman, hailed Chris – who was the longest-serving lawyer still practising in Leeds before his retirement – as “a real inspiration to the lawyer of tomorrow”.

He added: “His influence on his colleagues is immeasurable and will stand the test of time.

“This year’s winner could not be described as a high flyer, unlike many of his predecessors for this award. Chris has won because he is quite the opposite. A hard working, caring, work-a-day lawyer, there to do a job, without glory for himself, all for his clients.

“Unassuming, ever courteous and willing to offer a helping hand, he is what some would call a dying breed of lawyer. Someone who was selfless, always willing to try new things and, above all, conscious of his duty to always represent his profession with the utmost dignity and diligence.”

Before joining the Milners’ team in 2011, Chris had run his own firm, CT Lewis & Company, for over 40 years covering a wide range of work, including wills, probate, trusts and conveyancing.

Milners’ managing partner, Simon Bass, said: “It was an honour to watch Chris go onto the stage in front of more than 700 of his peers and collect his richly-deserved award.

“Many of those present would not have been born when Christ started his legal career 52 years ago.

“His retirement marks the end of an era for the legal world in Leeds, as his length of service will rarely be witnessed again.

“Everyone in the ‘Milners’ family’ are delighted that his career has ended on such a high, with recognition of the contribution he has made.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Watts .