No5 Chambers head dies after short illness

ONE of the most prominent members of the West Midlands legal community, Ralph Lewis QC, has died after a short illness.

Mr Lewis, 53, regarded as one of the leading lights of the Bar, died on Sunday following a brief battle with cancer. Mr Lewis, who was head of chambers at the UK’s largest set, No5 Chambers, was considered one of the finest Silks on the Midlands Circuit.

Paul Bleasdale QC, acting head of chambers, said: “Ralph was a valued colleague and friend and his death is a great loss not just to No5 but to the legal professional as a whole.

“The Bar has lost a formidable advocate and Chambers has lost a tremendous figurehead. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”  

Mr Lewis, described as one of the best advocates on the Circuit by the Legal 500 became head of No5 Chambers in February 2007. He was called to the Bar in 1978 and took Silk in 1999 specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence work.

His tenure as head of chambers saw record growth in receipts and the set being named Regional Chambers of the Year. Last month they were short listed for Chambers of the Year, which was seen as an acknowledgement of the set’s national reach from its offices in Birmingham, London and Bristol.

Mr Lewis is survived by his wife, Liz and three children, Camilla 19, Charles 16 and Oscar 15.