A COMMERCIAL property specialist has been appointed at law firm Crutes. GARETH JONES has joined Crutes as a partner and will work in the commercial property sector in the firm's business services departments and in the Teesside area.

Crutes, which has offices in Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Carlisle, Cumbria, recently merged with Teesside law firm Dobermans.

Mr Jones said: "I was attracted to this role at Crutes by its growing commercial property commitment and, of course, the potential that Teesside has in this sector.

"It is an exciting time to be joining the firm, not only because of the merger, but also because of the direction Teesside is taking.

"The area is really a blank canvas, which is just beginning, in property terms, to develop in line with other areas of the country. People are starting to realise the potential here.

"We find there is saturation in the commercial property marketplace elsewhere in the North, such as Leeds, where there has been significant development over the past ten years while Middlesbrough and Teesside offer opportunities which have, as yet, been largely untapped. I am looking forward to the challenge."