Cameron Markby Hewitt and McKenna & Co are to do joint presentations to their legal recruitment agencies in an attempt to end a drought of new solicitors following their lengthy merger negotiations. McKennas' managing partner Robert Derry-Evans said: “We did notice a fall off of applicants once the merger rumours started flying around, but now the CVs have started to come across our desks. There is no doubt both firms need more people.” At the time of the merger announcement the two firms were seeking around 30 qualified solicitors. McKennas particularly needs property, litigation and corporate lawyers and Camerons requires practitioners in its speciality area of banking. The firms' shortages are exacerbated by the City-wide shortage of qualified corporate, banking and commercial property assistants, following a lack of traineeships in the recession of the early 1990s.