LAW firm Crutes has appointed its first commercial director as part of its efforts to close the gap on the region's three leading law firms by 2010.

Chartered accountant Tim Robinson has joined the Newcastle company from engineering firm The Tanfield Group, where he was finance director.

He will be responsible for expanding the firm's services from its portfolio of litigation, insurance and public sector work into business services and private client law, as well as increasing the firm's share of the North-East market.

Crutes, which also has offices in Stockton and Carlisle, is aiming to close the gap on its regional rivals, Dickinson Dees, Watson Burton and Ward Hadaway, over the next three years.

Mr Robinson said: "The potential is there within this market, we only have to look at our larger competitors to see that.

"Using my 20-plus years' experience of building successful businesses, I hope to bring a strong commercial viewpoint to Crutes.

"We already have an excellent team of lawyers, and a strong tradition in litigation, insurance and public sector work.

"I am here to help the firm build on these strengths and to expand the business in a commercially viable way in our new target areas."

Crutes managing partner Helen Ager said: "In the last two years Crutes has invested heavily to get the right people in place across our target growth areas.

"Now we're ready to go out there and meet our competitors in the marketplace head-on."