NATION

Salomon Inc.’s mergers and acquisition team, including a former senior executive managing director, will join rival investment firm Lazard Freres & Co. Lazard said J. Ira Harris, a 19-year Salomon veteran and managing director who is based in Chicago, will join Lazard as a general partner.

Also joining Lazard with Harris will be William Gottschalk, who will become a general partner and Jeffrey Golman, who will become a Lazard vice president.

Golman was a vice president of mergers and acquisitions at Salomon and Gottschalk was a managing director. Both worked for Harris at Salomon’s Chicago investment banking operation.

Lazard said Harris will join its senior management in the coordination and expansion of its corporate advisory and mergers and acquisitions business in the United States and internationally.