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” in New York, Paris, and London formally united as one partnership. The firm went public in 2005 and today is one of the world’s most prestigious financial advisory and asset management firms, with offices in more than 35 cities across the world.

The firm employs more than 3,200 people globally and is led by Peter Orszag, its Chairman and CEO. Orszag previously served Lazard as CEO of Financial Advisory, Head of North American Mergers & Acquisitions, Global Co-Head of Healthcare, and Vice Chairman of Investment Banking. His resume also includes two positions in the Obama Administration: Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

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 mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and capital solutions, restructuring and liability management, geopolitics, 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.

Lazard's asset management business offers a broad range of investment management services across traditional and alternative strategies in equity and fixed income to corporations, public funds, sovereign entities, endowments and foundations, financial intermediaries, and private clients globally. As of September 30, 2025, Lazard managed assets of approximately $264.5 billion.