Lazar Partners: NYC Health PR Agency Profile (Finn Partners)

Lazar Partners is a New York health communications and investor relations firm founded in 2001 by Fern Lazar. It offers public relations, investor relations, patient communications, medical writing and key opinion leader engagement. FINN Partners acquired the 22-person firm on September 4, 2019, and Lazar joined FINN's global health practice as a managing partner.

Originally published April 2018. Updated October 17, 2026.

Who founded and leads Lazar Partners?

Fern Lazar founded Lazar Partners in 2001 and led it as CEO until the FINN deal. O'Dwyer's reports she held executive vice president posts at Edelman and Citigate Dewe Rogerson before starting the firm, and MM&M says she led health and financial practices at two global PR firms. At acquisition she became a FINN managing partner reporting to Gil Bashe, who leads FINN's global health practice, and the firm integrated with FINN's New York health group led by Kristie Kuhl.

What happened in the FINN Partners acquisition?

FINN Partners acquired Lazar Partners on September 4, 2019, adding a 22-person health agency to its health practice. The Holmes Report said the deal brought FINN's health headcount to 150 and annual health revenue to roughly $30 million, and that it was FINN's fourth acquisition of 2019. MM&M reported that FINN's health revenue had been $19.5 million the prior year and that Lazar added roughly $5 million. Both agency leaders said the deal came from shared values rather than a sale process, and Lazar told the Holmes Report she "didn't have to be acquired."

What does Lazar Partners do?

Lazar Partners describes itself as a health communications consultancy with expertise in investor relations, public relations, marketing communications, patient-to-patient communications, medical writing and key opinion leader engagement. FINN's announcement said the acquisition expanded its capabilities in patient communications, clinical trial recruitment, scientific writing, employee communications, marketing, and public and investor relations. For the broader category, see EPR's best healthcare PR agencies and investor relations guides.

Which clients has Lazar Partners worked with?

Lazar Partners' website listed Novartis, Luminex, Dermalogica and Boston Scientific among its partners at the time of the acquisition, the Holmes Report noted, although FINN declined to name client relationships. MM&M reported that the firm worked with four of the top six med-tech companies and several biotechs, without naming them.

What recognition has Lazar Partners received?

O'Dwyer's reported its 2018 fees of $4.9 million in its rankings. FINN, its acquirer, says it has won Holmes Healthcare Agency of the Year.

How does Lazar Partners compare with other healthcare PR firms?

Lazar Partners is now part of a larger network, so the FINN Partners profile is the best comparison point for its current scale. For wider options see healthcare PR and the best healthcare PR agencies guide, with firms listed in the PR agency profiles directory and the best PR firms in New York list. Its investor relations work also ties it to EPR's investor relations section.

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Related: PR agency profiles, FINN Partners, Healthcare PR, Investor relations, New York PR firms