Commercial management specialist Paul Causer joins Bruton Knowles as an associate from King Sturge and, previously, Lambert Smith Hampton, both in Birmingham. Paul has over 20 years' commercial property experience, having begun his career with an in-house role at Berkshire County Council and subsequently dealing with a range of property portfolios across the public and private sectors, including Legal & General and the Department for Work and Pensions. He also has strong retail property experience, having previously worked for Thorn EMI.

Paul will play a key role in Bruton Knowles' commercial property team, as Ian Pitt, partner and head of Bruton Knowles' Birmingham office, highlights: "Paul's experience is particularly complementary to our commercial management operations, and he brings with him the added benefit of professional and landlord and tenant expertise, giving him an excellent range of transferable skills."

Ian continues: "We believe these skills can be put to particularly good use to provide our commercial property management clients with more rounded strategic advice, in addition to the pure property management function provided by many of our competitors.

"Paul is also a very experienced APC Assessor, and currently Chairs at assessment panels. This specialist knowledge of the APC process will provide a valuable extension to our in-house APC training capability."

Adam Rock joins Bruton Knowles as a senior surveyor, having worked at Gerald Eve in Birmingham for over eight years. Working alongside former colleague Ian Pitt, Adam will boost Bruton Knowles' established team, delivering professional services, including; valuations, landlord and tenant and rating advice for a wide range of private and public sector clients, including newly instructed Wyre Forest District Council.

Adam and the team will be heavily involved in the 2010 rating revaluation, which comes into effect on 1 April 2010, working with clients to minimise rates liabilities and maximise savings.

Former clients of Adam's include RSM Bentley Jennison, Peugeot, ATS Euromaster and the Royal Agricultural Society of England and his skill-set proves to be a good fit with Bruton Knowles, as Ian explains: "Adam's experience spans a broad spectrum; not only does he have a strong track record in a range of professional services, he also has an excellent knowledge of the city and the wider Midlands region, giving him a good understanding of the local commercial market."

A keen sportsman, Adam will also make a significant contribution to Bruton Knowles' charitable sporting activities. Recent achievements for Adam include cycling coast-to-coast through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors, the 3-peaks challenge, walking the entire length of Hadrian's Wall and canoeing down the River Wye - all in aid of the Alzheimer's Society.

Paul and Adam's appointments come within weeks of Bruton Knowles announcing the promotion of Adam Zarzycki to associate in the commercial team and Lindsay Hayward to associate in the residential team.