Employment lawyer Paul McGowan and industrial disease specialist Lee Dixon have been made partners at Newcastle law firm Watson Burton.

Mr McGowan, who has been with the firm since 1993, specialising in employment tribunals involving unfair dismissals on the grounds of race, sex and disability discrimination.

He also has experience in the Court of Appeal and the European Court of Justice. Mr Dixon, a graduate of Newcastle University, joined Watson Burton two years ago and works in the industrial disease department. He advises individuals and trade unions nationwide.