 In 1850 he was articled to his father, James Graham Lewis (1804–1869), founder of Lewis & Lewis, one of the best-known firms of solicitors in the city of London.George was admitted in Hilary term in 1856, and was subsequently taken into partnership by his father and uncle.He first made his name in prosecuting the directors of the Overend and Gurney Bank, who had caused the disastrous panic of 1866, and for a time he devoted special attention to financial cases.