Christopher Lewis is to retire from his role as a legal consultant at Milners on Friday 30 June, marking the end of a successful career that has spanned more than half a century in the city.
When he first qualified in 1965, the average Yorkshire house price was around £3,000; Asda had just launched its very first supermarket in Castleford; and the Pennine Way was being opened.
Now, 52 years later, retirement beckons for the solicitor that the Law Society has confirmed as the longest-serving lawyer who is still practising in Leeds.
Between 1969 and 2011, Lewis ran his own law firm, CT Lewis & Company, covering a wide range of work, including wills, probate, trusts and conveyancing.
He joined city centre lawyers Milners six years ago.
“I’m lucky to have had a life in law. It’s been an engaging job that has given me such a privileged insight into the day-to-day life of interesting people,” said Lewis.
“It has been a remarkable journey which has brought me into contact with so many clients who have become friends, and who go back to my very first years as a lawyer.”
The managing partner of Milners, Simon Bass, led the tributes, saying: “I am sure I echo the thoughts of many in Leeds and beyond by saying that Chris’s retirement signals the end of an era. His length of service will be rarely seen again in Leeds.
“He is a hugely-respected colleague and he has added an important dimension to Milners since he joined us, making a real contribution to our future success.”
He added: “His insight has been a real inspiration to the lawyers of tomorrow who have benefited from his varied cases. His experience has also been a stand-out asset to the Milners team – none of us were even born when Chris started practising.”
