Lazard Largesse

reprints


jerry speyer 1 getty Lazard LargesseIn the weeks preceding the death of Lazard CEO and New York magazine owner Bruce Wasserstein at the unripe age of 61, the city’s biggest real estate brokerages had been vying for one of Manhattan’s few plum assignments: the chance to represent Wasserstein et al. in his firm’s lease negotiations for between 300,000 and 400,000 square feet of office space, be that for its current digs at 30 Rock or at some still undetermined new office location.

At the time, Cushman & Wakefield was considered the lead contender. And then Wasserstein died. And, like pretty much everything Lazard-related, uncertainty reigned regarding its New York real estate.

No longer.

“I can confirm that Cushman & Wakefield has been retained for that assignment,” said Steve Solomon, a spokesman for the brokerage. According to Mr. Solomon, firm co-chairman John Cushman will personally handle the job.

Lazard, which now reportedly occupies 200,000 square feet until 2012 at 30 Rock, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But given the state of the real estate market, Rockefeller Center landlord Jerry Speyer will fight tooth and nail, we imagine, to keep Lazard in its place, and on its rent rolls.

drubinstein@observer.com