* LAW firm Watson Burton has appointed insolvency lawyer GRAHAM RIDLER from Hong Kong to its Leeds office.

Mr Ridler, who joins as a partner, will lead the corporate recovery team in the Leeds office. He has more than 15 years' experience helping Yorkshire and North-East businesses, lenders and insolvency practitioners.

Watson Burton has opened the Leeds office to attract business from North Yorkshire and the area its Newcastle office may not reach.

Mr Ridler, who will also be joint head of corporate recovery at the practice, along with Julian Gill, in Newcastle, said he was excited about his return to Yorkshire