2026 Lazard Investment Banking Summer Associate – Chicago Restructuring & Liability Management
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 liability management, M&A, credit analysis, capital raising, industry insights and negotiation in distressed situations.
Day-to-day activities of Summer Associates are dependent on your prior experience and abilities, and include: financial analysis and modeling, the creation and preparation of client presentations, and interaction with clients, among other things.
You’ll need to have:
- 2-3 years of prior work experience
- Currently matriculated at a MBA or JD program and within two years of graduation
- Top academic performance
- Motivation, creativity, maturity, and poise
- Strong quantitative background
- Strong analytical skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to multi-task
This opportunity is located in Chicago and an interest in working in Chicago is necessary.
Please also submit your application via Lazard's career website at www.lazard.com/careers
What we offer
You will begin your internship by participating in a week-long comprehensive training program in New York. Throughout the program, you will receive formal mentorship, exposure to our Leadership Team, and participate in various social and networking events with bankers across the Firm.
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 for this role to be approximately $185,000 USD. 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, relevant skills for the role, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.
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.