Founded in 1848, Lazard has advised on some of the most significant mergers and acquisitions in Europe and the Americas since the beginning of the 20th century. The firm's modern history can be traced to the year 2000, when the “three houses of Lazard” (based in New York, Paris, and London) formally united as one partnership. The firm went public in 2005 and today is the world’s largest advisory-focused investment bank, with offices in 41 cities across the world. The firm is led by Kenneth M. Jacobs, its Chairman and CEO, and employs more than 3,300 people globally.

Lazard has two businesses: financial advisory and asset management, each account for approximately 50 percent of the firm's revenues. The financial advisory business advises companies, boards, governments and sovereign entities on M&A transactions, capital structure, capital raising, restructuring, shareholder strategy, and other strategic matters. Thanks to its extensive and deeply rooted global network, Lazard is known for advising on large, complex and cross-border assignments.