Wall Street Firms

Front 1

Lazard Freres

Back 1

Top boutique
Grandaddy of M&A
Mainly Asset Management and M&A

Front 2

Blackstone Group

Back 2

Strong M&A and restructuring groups in addition to their top-tier PE funds"

-As an investment and advisory firm, Blackstone says it maintains a small firm in order to give senior-level attention to investors and clients, and engages only in friendly takeovers rather than in hostile bids.
• "The responsibility given to junior people is unparalleled across Wall Street—you'll learn far more and make more high-level contacts than you would anywhere else"
• "Extremely smart people; strong camaraderie"
• "Incredible exit opportunities"

Front 3

What is the syndication group at an investment banking firm?

Back 3

(Find the answer)

Front 4

William Blair

Back 4

“Working directly with senior bankers and clients”
• “Strong sense of camaraderie”
• “Good pay and perks”
"Strong, small firm focused on the middle market"
• "Good for a cheap fairness opinion"
• "Good for outside of New York"

Front 5

Gleacher and Co.

Back 5

Gleacher has a very lean middle layer (few associates, VPs, and directors) so analysts are provided an enormous amount of exposure to senior level bankers. This makes for a very collegial atmosphere with ample opportunity to foster relationships with managing directors -- the most experienced guys at the firm who are often very helpful in getting you the coveted post-analyst buy-side job.

Front 6

Piper Jaffray

Back 6

• "Strong in health care middle market"
• "Mid-market focus"
• "Strategy's always changing"
The organization is fairly flat and the groups are not that big relative to other banks. As such, even analysts have a chance to work with the most senior professionals on a semi-regular basis and will get great exposure to senior leadership. Comments and opinions from the junior level are highly encouraged, and senior employees treat the juniors as direct colleagues, affording the same respect and treatment as the CEO.”

Front 7

Sandler O'neill

Back 7

• "Best FIG group on the Street"
• "Decent FIG bank but not much of anything else"
Great firm. Old-school Wall Street culture -- the partners take care of their troops. Reputation and client service come first. Hard work is rewarded, and a flat organization greatly minimizes the B.S. that is found at large firms.”

Front 8

Citi

Back 8

Great people"
• "Global footprint is attractive"
• "Analysts tend to get good experiences because the firm is involved in many high-profile deals"

Front 9

RBS

Back 9

• “Everyone on the team puts in the hours”
• “Friendly and open”
“Culture is family-orientated, entrepreneurial, and changing. With our new analyst program fully implemented, the young employees here are making strides in changing the face of the business (diversity-wise) and bringing a new level of energy and system expertise to the desks.”

“Extremely open culture -- no cubicles! Flat structure with access to senior management. Idea generation is expected and encouraged across all ranks from analyst to MD level. Great work/life balance. Highly productive teamwork across groups.”

Front 10

RBC

Back 10

"I like my fellow co-workers and I like my bosses; they're an incredible team and are very caring, great people"
• "Being number one in Canada with a growing franchise in the U.S.—that is, 'being on a winning team'"
• “Strong team-oriented atmosphere"

Front 11

Nomura

Back 11

“My job is fantastic! I work for an international bank with international colleagues (all are bilingual and only two Americans are in my group) and we focus on the most exciting and fast-paced international market in the world: Asia.”

“A newer firm on the U.S. front, Nomura is an organization where young guns learn extremely fast and take on responsibilities that are often the envy of other shops. In my view, learning is vastly more important than a flashy franchise name.”

Front 12

Jeffries

Back 12

"Junior professionals given a lot of responsibility—good client exposure and deal flow"
• "Strong growth trajectory, great opportunity to participate in a 'rising star' firm"
• "Team-oriented, very friendly culture"

Front 13

Perella

Back 13

On the come-up

Front 14

Evercore

Back 14

I’ve been very happy with my experience at Evercore, which has been a phenomenal place for me to begin my career. The level of responsibility I’ve been given as well as the depth and breath of my experience have been amazing. Evercore has been undergoing an incredible amount of growth in terms of size, scope, and brand recognition: for a small firm, it has worked on some of the largest deals on the Street, such as AT&T/T-Mobile and Berkshire Hathaway/Burlington Northern. However, the firm’s associates could be better, and many analysts often run into conflicts with them.”

“The firm is still small enough that you are on first-name basis with everyone at the firm, from partner to analyst, and you still see and interact with the chairman and CEO on a regular basis -- the firm hasn't lost its personal touch. There is no competition among junior folks whatsoever, and it is an extremely collaborative environment. People are dedicated to the development of junior bankers.”