The Lebanese government is considering the renewal of its contract with global financial advisory firm Lazard. While no official decision has yet been made, there is a government orientation toward reengaging with Lazard as well as the law firm Cleary Gottlieb, under a mandate limited specifically to debt restructuring.  It is worth noting that Lazard had previously drafted an economic and financial recovery plan for a former cabinet in 2020, a few months after the onset of Lebanon’s economic collapse. The plan became a source of contention, ultimately leading to its shelving. This led to the failure of the first round of the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the same year.  This move comes, as the government believes it’s more productive to stick with firms that are already familiar with Lebanese files, rather than launch a new selection process. Both firms played an important role in organizing the meeting between the Lebanese delegation and Eurobond holders in Washington during the IMF’s spring meetings in April. During the meetings, the delegation requested additional time, citing the extension of the statute of limitations on the bonds and emphasizing the recent challenges that Lebanonhas faced. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Bank Audi, Lebanon Weekly Monitor, 9 - 15 June 2025