2026 Chicago Restructuring Full Time Associate

Lazard is one of the world’s preeminent financial advisory and asset management firms. Our people and culture make the difference. While global in presence and reach, ours is a close, collaborative community of just over 3,000 professionals. Lazard is a place of continuous knowledge sharing, skill development and relationship building, where professionals grow and succeed together. Our entrepreneurial culture, flat structure and embrace of individual differences, allow creative ideas, original concepts, and unique perspectives to drive our business forward — and for careers to take flight. 

Through our financial advisory business, Lazard advises clients around the world on strategic and financial matters including mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, capital structure and capital raising. Our client relationships are built on trust and discretion. As the world’s largest advisory-focused firm, we have exceptional depth of expertise across industry sectors and geographies. We value the rich diversity that comes from blending local perspective with our global network.

Lazard has advised on more than 500 restructurings over the past decade with total restructured liabilities over $2 trillion, including many of the largest and most complex. Unlike most other firms, our professionals combine their restructuring knowledge with expertise in restructuring, liability management, M&A, credit analysis, capital raising, industry insights and negotiation in distressed situations.

We’ll trust you to:

• Develop and maintain complex financial models to evaluate transactions and other strategic decision making
• Assist in the execution of M&A, capital raising, and other advisory transactions, including due diligence, document preparation, and coordination with clients and other stakeholders
• Conduct comprehensive research on industries, companies, and market trends to support advisory services and inform strategic recommendations
• Mentor and train junior analysts, providing guidance on financial modeling, research, and best practices in investment banking

You’ll need to have:

• Enrollment in an MBA or JD program with an anticipated graduation of Spring 2026.
• Strong financial modeling skills and quantitative background coupled with meticulous attention to detail
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills with ability to manage a variety of transactions and projects simultaneously
• Demonstrated leadership skills and be a team player with a strong motivation to contribute to a positive team culture
• Ability to effectively lead Analysts and provide training and guidance
• Top performance with comfort operating in a fast-paced environment that values initiative, creativity, maturity, and poise
• Bachelor’s degree required

What we offer:

We strive to enhance the total health and well-being of our employees through comprehensive, competitive benefits. Our goal is to offer a highly individualized employee experience that enables you to balance your commitments to career, family, and community. When you work for Lazard, you are working for an organization that cares about your unique talents and passions, and will continue to invest in the development of your career.

We expect the base salary range for this role to be approximately $185,000. Various factors contribute to determining the actual base compensation offered, including but not limited to the applicant’s years of relevant experience, career tenure, qualifications, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and relevant skills for the role. Base salary is one component of Lazard Financial Advisory’s compensation package, which also includes comprehensive benefits and may include incentive compensation.

Does this sound like you?

Apply! We’ll get in touch on the next steps.

Representation at Lazard

Lazard is an intellectual capital business committed to delivering the best advice and solutions to clients. To achieve these objectives, we focus on attracting, developing and retaining the best talent. We believe that a workforce comprised of people who represent a wide array of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives creates a rich variety of thought that empowers us to challenge conventional wisdom, solve problems creatively and make better decisions.

Lazard was built on the premise that a multicultural firm can best serve a global clientele. As a global firm that has grown organically from local roots in different countries, we have a deep tradition of respecting and appreciating individual differences. Doing so has been core to our success for over 175 years. We are committed to sustaining an environment where every colleague is supported in their professional pursuits, can maximize their individual potential and contribute to our collective success.