It is not true that most English law firms have been taken over by U.S. ones. It is true that most large English firms have offices in the U.S. (just as many large U.S. firms have offices here) and there have been some mergers, but it is not at all true to say that there has been any kind of one-way takeover. All of the "magic circle" have their largest offices in London. There are certainly corporate lawyers living in East Dulwich and many of them like a good bargain as much as the next man.