Group Tiers at Lazard

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a breakdown of group tiers and insights at Lazard:

Top Tier Groups at Lazard

1. Aerospace & Defense (A&D):

   • Located in LA, this group is highly regarded for its strong culture and impressive deal flow.
   • Known for excelling in middle-market sponsor sell-sides.
   • Recent notable deals include:
     • Sell-side advisor for KKR's acquisition of Atlantic Aviation ($4.5B).
     • Buy-side advisor for Lindsay Goldberg's acquisition of Summit Interconnect.
     • Sell-side advisor for StandardAero's acquisition of Signature Aviation's ERO ($230M).

2. General Reputation:

   • Lazard is considered a Tier 1 Elite Boutique, widely recognized for its intellectual rigor and strong brand.
   • The firm is known for testing pure aptitude during interviews with mental math and brain teasers.

Potential Concerns

• Pigeonholing: Some feedback suggests that Lazard’s smaller size in certain offices (e.g., LA) might limit broader exposure, potentially pigeonholing professionals.
• Workload: The culture in some groups, like A&D, can be grindy, though the team is described as bright and good-natured.

If you’re considering Lazard, the A&D group in LA stands out as a top choice, but be mindful of the potential for specialization in smaller offices.

Sources: Lazard and Jefferies A&D Groups, Best Groups at BBs, Best Banks for certain Groups Ranking, PWP LA, Lazard LA, and Houlihan LA (RX), Lazard Clarification, Evercore vs Lazard vs Jefferies