Lehman Brothers Inc. has been gone for 16 years, and it dances the twist! The Lehman Brothers Inc. is probably not the first thing we think of when we hear the word "bankruptcy," but in the financial world, it's a name that still resonates. The collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 sent shockwaves through the global economy and marked the beginning of the financial crisis that would come to be known as the Great Recession. Despite being defunct for over a decade, the legacy of Lehman Brothers lives on, serving as a cautionary tale for investors and financial institutions alike.
In Sam Mendes's revival, an epic narrative of American capitalism is translated into thrillingly stripped-back theatre. The Lehman Trilogy, originally written by Stefano Massini and adapted by Ben Power, actually contains a great deal more detail than the extant Wikipedia pages. The play takes audiences on a journey through the history of Lehman Brothers, from its humble beginnings as a small dry goods store in Alabama to its meteoric rise as one of the largest investment banks in the world. It explores the highs and lows of the firm, painting a complex portrait of ambition, greed, and hubris.
Jefferies CEO Richard Handler has shared the email he sent to Lehman Brothers' former CEO, Richard 'Dick' Fuld, on the day the firm filed for bankruptcy. Handler's email offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Lehman Brothers in its final days, revealing the mounting pressure, chaos, and desperation that ultimately led to its downfall. The last analyst class to get into Lehman Brothers 16 years ago have largely stayed in finance, but others have branched out. Like those who built Lehman Brothers (a finance firm in its most recent — and last — iteration) from the empty pockets of indomitable spirit and fierce determination, these former analysts have leveraged their experiences at Lehman to carve out successful careers in finance and beyond.