London skylineThings have certainly changed since the heady days of the late 1990s when the Americans arrived, all guns blazing, threatening to launch their world invasion from London. With 11 September and the economic recession, deal activity has dried up. As economic conditions continue to harden, how will this large ex-pat community fare?

There are more than 80 US firms in the UK. They range from the top-tier New York Wall Street firms and Chicago-based giants through to niche boutique practices.