CRUTES law firm has promoted two of its senior fee-earners to associates.

JOANNE KINGSLAND and MARK DOUGLAS work in Crutes' public services department, dealing with local authorities and their insurers.

That includes a specialist area dealing with sensitive and high-profile claims, involving child abuse and bullying.

Ms Kingsland studied at Sheffield University and returned to the North-East after graduation. She has been with the firm since January 1995 working on local authority claims. Mr Douglas started his career with Crutes in 1989 as an office junior and was offered the position of trainee in 1990.

His work involves defendant litigation, including employers' liability.

Crutes has offices in Newcastle and Teesside.