It was Mr. Kern who set up his firm's mergers and acquisitions group 10 years ago.

The bridegroom, 31, is a vice president in the acquisitions group of Colonnade Properties, a real estate investment company in New York.

Mr. Kovacs will continue in his corporate finance role in the firm's mergers and acquisitions group.

Until last month, she was a senior associate in the mergers and acquisitions group at Dean Witter Reynolds in Chicago.

One lawyer in the mergers and acquisitions group worked 3,600 to 4,000 hours.

He is an associate in the mergers and acquisitions group at Dewey Ballantine, the New York law firm.

Also, William R. Barrett has joined its mergers and acquisitions group as a managing director.

Mr. Zimmerman is joining the mergers and acquisitions group as a vice president.

He left Lehman, following its acquisition by Shearson and headed the mergers & acquisitions group at Morgan Stanley from 1985 through 1990.

Revenue in Lazard's mergers and acquisitions group increased 9 percent, to $198 million in the second quarter.