PJT PJT Partners Inc

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 4, 2025

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PJT Partners Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware	001-36869	36-4797143
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
280 Park Avenue New York, New York		10017
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 364-7800

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8‑K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a‑12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a‑12)
☐	Pre‑commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d‑2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d‑2(b))
☐	Pre‑commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e‑4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e‑4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share		PJT		New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

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Item 2.02.	Results of Operations.

On February 4, 2025, PJT Partners Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the financial results for its full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. The information contained under Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and, as a result, such information shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01.	Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press release of PJT Partners Inc. dated February 4, 2025 announcing the Company’s full year and fourth quarter 2024 results.
104		The cover page of this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

PJT Partners Inc.
By:	/s/ Helen T. Meates
	Name: Helen T. Meates
	Title: Chief Financial Officer

Date: February 4, 2025

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	PJT Partners Inc. Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

Full Year Overview

Fourth Quarter Overview

Headcount, Capital Management and Balance Sheet

 

	Paul J. Taubman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our firm delivered record setting full year 2024 results with record performance in all our businesses. We remain focused on further expanding our firmwide capabilities as we continue to provide clients with differentiated advice and differentiated outcomes. As before, we remain highly confident in our future growth prospects.”

New York, February 4, 2025: PJT Partners Inc. (the “Company” or “PJT Partners”) (NYSE: PJT) today announced its financial results for the full year and quarter ended December 31, 2024.

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Revenues

The following table sets forth revenues for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:

		Three Months Ended December 31,											Year Ended December 31,
		2024				2023				% Change			2024				2023				% Change
		(Dollars in Millions)
Revenues
Advisory Fees		$	434.5			$	290.6			49%			$	1,314.0			$	1,026.6			28%
Placement Fees			32.4				28.3			14%				146.3				102.6			43%
Interest Income & Other			10.4				9.6			8%				32.9				23.9			38%
Total Revenues		$	477.3			$	328.6			45%			$	1,493.2			$	1,153.2			29%

Year Ended

The increase in Advisory Revenues was due to increases in strategic advisory, restructuring and private capital solutions revenues.

The increase in Placement Revenues was due to an increase in fund placement revenues.

The increase in Interest Income & Other was principally due to higher interest income as a result of higher average cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments balances.

Three Months Ended

The increase in Advisory Revenues was principally due to an increase in strategic advisory revenues.

The increase in Placement Revenues was principally due to an increase in fund placement revenues.

Expenses

The following tables set forth information relating to the Company’s expenses for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:

		Year Ended December 31,
		2024								2023
		GAAP				As Adjusted				GAAP				As Adjusted
		(Dollars in Millions)
Expenses
Compensation and Benefits		$	1,032.1			$	1,030.0			$	805.4			$	805.4
% of Revenues			69.1	%			69.0	%			69.8	%			69.8	%
Non-Compensation		$	190.5			$	184.9			$	170.2			$	165.1
% of Revenues			12.8	%			12.4	%			14.8	%			14.3	%
Total Expenses		$	1,222.6			$	1,214.8			$	975.6			$	970.5
% of Revenues			81.9	%			81.4	%			84.6	%			84.2	%
Pretax Income		$	270.6			$	278.3			$	177.6			$	182.7
% of Revenues			18.1	%			18.6	%			15.4	%			15.8	%

 

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		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2024								2023
		GAAP				As Adjusted				GAAP				As Adjusted
		(Dollars in Millions)
Expenses
Compensation and Benefits		$	326.0			$	323.9			$	232.3			$	232.3
% of Revenues			68.3	%			67.9	%			70.7	%			70.7	%
Non-Compensation		$	48.4			$	46.6			$	44.6			$	43.3
% of Revenues			10.1	%			9.8	%			13.6	%			13.2	%
Total Expenses		$	374.4			$	370.5			$	276.9			$	275.6
% of Revenues			78.4	%			77.6	%			84.3	%			83.9	%
Pretax Income		$	102.9			$	106.8			$	51.7			$	53.0
% of Revenues			21.6	%			22.4	%			15.7	%			16.1	%

 

Compensation and Benefits Expense

Year Ended

GAAP Compensation and Benefits Expense was $1.03 billion compared with $805 million in the prior year. Adjusted Compensation and Benefits Expense was $1.03 billion compared with $805 million in the prior year. The increase in Compensation and Benefits Expense was driven by higher revenues compared with the prior year period, partially offset by a lower accrual rate.

Three Months Ended

GAAP Compensation and Benefits Expense was $326 million for the current quarter compared with $232 million in the prior year. Adjusted Compensation and Benefits Expense was $324 million compared with $232 million in the prior year. The increase in Compensation and Benefits Expense was driven by higher revenues compared with the prior year period, partially offset by a lower accrual rate.

Non-Compensation Expense

Year Ended

GAAP Non-Compensation Expense was $191 million compared with $170 million in the prior year. Adjusted Non-Compensation Expense was $185 million compared with $165 million in the prior year.

The increase in GAAP and Adjusted Non-Compensation Expense compared with the prior year was principally due to increases in Occupancy and Related, Travel and Related, and Communications and Information Services. Occupancy and Related increased principally due to the expansion and lease term extension for our New York headquarters in the fourth quarter of 2023 and further expansion of our London office in the third quarter of 2024. Travel and Related increased due to increased levels of business travel. Communications and Information Services increased principally due to investments in technology infrastructure.

Three Months Ended

GAAP Non-Compensation Expense was $48 million for the current quarter compared with $45 million in the prior year. Adjusted Non-Compensation Expense was $47 million for the current quarter compared with $43 million in the prior year.

The increase in GAAP and Adjusted Non-Compensation Expense compared with the prior year was principally due to increases in Occupancy and Related, Travel and Related, and Professional Fees, partially

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offset by a decrease in Other Expenses. Occupancy and Related increased principally due to the expansion and lease term extension for our New York headquarters in the fourth quarter of 2023 and further expansion of our London office in the third quarter of 2024. Travel and Related increased due to increased levels of business travel. Professional Fees increased principally due to higher senior advisor expenses. Other Expenses decreased principally due to lower bad debt expense.

Provision for Taxes

As of December 31, 2024, the Company owned 60.3% of PJT Partners Holdings LP. The Company is subject to U.S. federal and state corporate income tax while PJT Partners Holdings LP and its operating subsidiaries are subject to certain state, local and foreign income taxes. Refer to Note 11. “Stockholders’ Equity” in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in “Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for further information about the corporate ownership structure. The effective tax rate for GAAP Net Income for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was 11.6% and 12.0%, respectively. The effective tax rate for GAAP Net Income for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was 11.9% and 18.0%, respectively.

In calculating Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted, the Company has assumed that all outstanding partnership units in PJT Partners Holdings LP (“Partnership Units”) (excluding Partnership Units that have yet to satisfy certain market conditions) have been exchanged into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, subjecting all of the Company’s income to corporate-level tax.

The effective tax rate for Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was 20.6% and 25.3%, respectively.

Capital Management and Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2024, the Company held cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $547 million and had no funded debt.

During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company repurchased 2.2 million shares of Class A common stock in the open market, exchanged 542 thousand Partnership Units for cash and net share settled 339 thousand shares of Class A common stock to satisfy employee tax obligations. During the fourth quarter 2024, the Company repurchased 319 thousand shares of Class A common stock in the open market, exchanged 125 thousand Partnership Units for cash and net share settled 45 thousand shares of Class A common stock to satisfy employee tax obligations.

In total during the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company repurchased 3.1 million share and share equivalents at an average price of $109.14 per share. During the fourth quarter 2024, the Company repurchased 489 thousand share and share equivalents at an average price of $149.28 per share.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company's remaining repurchase authorization was $278 million.

The Company intends to repurchase 324 thousand Partnership Units for cash on February 11, 2025 at a price to be determined by the volume-weighted average price per share of the Company’s Class A common stock on February 6, 2025.

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Dividend

The Board of Directors of the Company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share of Class A common stock. The dividend will be paid on March 19, 2025 to Class A common stockholders of record as of March 5, 2025.

Quarterly Investor Call Details

PJT Partners will host a conference call on February 4, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its full year and fourth quarter 2024 results. The conference call can be accessed via the internet at www.pjtpartners.com or by dialing +1 (800) 245-3047 (U.S. domestic) or +1 (203) 518-9765 (international), passcode PJTP4Q24. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available following the call at www.pjtpartners.com.

About PJT Partners

PJT Partners is a premier, global, advisory-focused investment bank that was built from the ground up to be different. Our highly experienced, collaborative teams provide independent advice coupled with old-world, high-touch client service. This ethos has allowed us to attract some of the very best talent in the markets in which we operate. We deliver leading advice to many of the world's most consequential companies, effect some of the most transformative transactions and restructurings and raise billions of dollars of capital around the globe to support startups and more established companies. To learn more about PJT Partners, please visit our website at www.pjtpartners.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain material presented herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements include certain information concerning future results of operations, business strategies, acquisitions, financing plans, competitive position, potential growth opportunities, potential operating performance improvements, the effects of competition and the effects of future legislation or regulations. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words “believe,” “expect,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “could” or the negative of these terms or similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance upon any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: (a) changes in governmental regulations and policies; (b) cyber attacks, security vulnerabilities and internet disruptions, including breaches of data security and privacy leaks, data loss and business interruptions; (c) failures of our computer systems or communication systems, including as a result of a catastrophic event and the use of remote environments; (d) the impact of catastrophic events, including business disruptions, pandemics, reductions in employment and an increase in business failures on (1) the U.S. and the global economy and

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(2) our employees and our ability to provide services to our clients and respond to their needs; (e) the failure of third-party service providers to perform their functions; and (f) volatility in the political and economic environment, including as a result of inflation, new or changes to existing tariffs, elevated interest rates and geopolitical and military conflicts.

Any of these factors, as well as such other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. There may be other risks and uncertainties that the Company is unable to predict at this time or that are not currently expected to have a material adverse effect on its business. Any such risks could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following represent additional performance measures that management uses in making resource allocation and/or compensation decisions. These measures should not be considered substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Management believes the following non-GAAP measures, when presented together with comparable GAAP measures, are useful to investors in understanding the Company’s operating results: Adjusted Pretax Income; Adjusted Net Income; Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted, in total and on a per-share basis (referred to as “Adjusted EPS”); Adjusted Compensation and Benefits Expense and Adjusted Non-Compensation Expense. These non-GAAP measures, presented and discussed in this earnings release, remove the impact of: (a) acquisition-related compensation expense; (b) acquisition-related intangible asset amortization; and (c) the net change to the amount the Company has agreed to pay Blackstone Inc. ("Blackstone") related to the net realized cash benefit from certain compensation-related tax deductions. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures and further detail regarding the adjustments are provided in the Appendix.

To help investors understand the effect of the Company’s ownership structure on its Adjusted Net Income, the Company has presented Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted. This measure illustrates the impact of taxes on Adjusted Pretax Income, assuming all Partnership Units (excluding Partnership Units that have yet to satisfy certain market conditions) have been exchanged for shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, resulting in all of the Company’s income becoming subject to corporate-level tax, considering both current and deferred income tax effects. This tax rate excludes a number of adjustments, including the tax benefits of the adjustments for acquisition-related compensation expense and amortization expense.

 

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Appendix

GAAP Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Data (unaudited)

Summary of Shares Outstanding (unaudited)

Footnotes

 

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		Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenues
Advisory Fees		$	434,453			$	290,633			$	1,314,003			$	1,026,646
Placement Fees			32,432				28,338				146,258				102,611
Interest Income and Other			10,396				9,583				32,916				23,925
Total Revenues			477,281				328,554				1,493,177				1,153,182
Expenses
Compensation and Benefits			326,022				232,271				1,032,070				805,385
Occupancy and Related			13,466				10,721				50,695				40,420
Travel and Related			10,533				8,727				37,003				31,190
Professional Fees			9,607				7,856				37,619				36,581
Communications and Information Services			5,087				4,840				20,050				17,157
Depreciation and Amortization			3,205				3,460				12,799				14,047
Other Expenses			6,481				8,986				32,372				30,793
Total Expenses			374,401				276,861				1,222,608				975,573
Income Before Provision for Taxes			102,880				51,693				270,569				177,609
Provision for Taxes			11,883				6,202				32,096				31,927
Net Income			90,997				45,491				238,473				145,682
Net Income Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests			39,693				20,579				104,080				63,883
Net Income Attributable to PJT Partners Inc.		$	51,304			$	24,912			$	134,393			$	81,799
Net Income Per Share of Class A Common Stock
Basic		$	2.02			$	0.98			$	5.28			$	3.24
Diluted		$	1.83			$	0.87			$	4.92			$	3.12
Weighted-Average Shares of Class A Common    Stock Outstanding
Basic			25,401,719				25,362,576				25,454,445				25,255,327
Diluted			44,948,361				43,472,884				44,105,131				41,882,034

 

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		Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
GAAP Net Income		$	90,997			$	45,491			$	238,473			$	145,682
Less: GAAP Provision for Taxes			11,883				6,202				32,096				31,927
GAAP Pretax Income			102,880				51,693				270,569				177,609
Adjustments to GAAP Pretax Income
Acquisition-Related Compensation Expense(1)			2,103				—				2,103				—
Amortization of Intangible Assets(2)			1,437				1,230				5,127				4,920
Spin-Off-Related Payable Due to Blackstone(3)			346				36				543				136
Adjusted Pretax Income			106,766				52,959				278,342				182,665
Adjusted Taxes(4)			12,765				6,700				33,708				32,768
Adjusted Net Income			94,001				46,259				244,634				149,897
If-Converted Adjustments
Less: Adjusted Taxes(4)			(12,765	)			(6,700	)			(33,708	)			(32,768	)
Add: If-Converted Taxes(5)			21,208				11,666				57,239				46,297
Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted		$	85,558			$	41,293			$	221,103			$	136,368
GAAP Net Income Per Share of Class A Common Stock
Basic		$	2.02			$	0.98			$	5.28			$	3.24
Diluted		$	1.83			$	0.87			$	4.92			$	3.12
GAAP Weighted-Average Shares of Class A    Common Stock Outstanding
Basic			25,401,719				25,362,576				25,454,445				25,255,327
Diluted			44,948,361				43,472,884				44,105,131				41,882,034
Adjusted Net Income, If-Converted Per Share		$	1.90			$	0.96			$	5.02			$	3.27
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding, If-Converted			44,948,160				42,943,082				44,051,384				41,749,633

 

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		Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
GAAP Compensation and Benefits Expense		$	326,022			$	232,271			$	1,032,070			$	805,385
Acquisition-Related Compensation Expense(1)			(2,103	)			—				(2,103	)			—
Adjusted Compensation and Benefits Expense		$	323,919			$	232,271			$	1,029,967			$	805,385
Non-Compensation Expenses
Occupancy and Related		$	13,466			$	10,721			$	50,695			$	40,420
Travel and Related			10,533				8,727				37,003				31,190
Professional Fees			9,607				7,856				37,619				36,581
Communications and Information Services			5,087				4,840				20,050				17,157
Depreciation and Amortization			3,205				3,460				12,799				14,047
Other Expenses			6,481				8,986				32,372				30,793
GAAP Non-Compensation Expense			48,379				44,590				190,538				170,188
Amortization of Intangible Assets(2)			(1,437	)			(1,230	)			(5,127	)			(4,920	)
Spin-Off-Related Payable Due to Blackstone(3)			(346	)			(36	)			(543	)			(136	)
Adjusted Non-Compensation Expense		$	46,596			$	43,324			$	184,868			$	165,132

 

 

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The following table provides a summary of weighted-average shares outstanding for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 for both basic and diluted shares. The table also provides a reconciliation to If-Converted Shares Outstanding assuming that all Partnership Units (excluding Partnership Units that have yet to satisfy certain market conditions) and unvested PJT Partners Inc. restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were converted to shares of the Company’s Class A common stock:

		Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding - GAAP
Basic Shares Outstanding, GAAP			25,401,719				25,362,576				25,454,445				25,255,327
Dilutive Impact of Unvested RSUs(6)			3,808,660				2,614,537				2,979,117				1,711,829
Dilutive Impact of Partnership Units(7)			15,737,982				15,495,771				15,671,569				14,914,878
Diluted Shares Outstanding, GAAP			44,948,361				43,472,884				44,105,131				41,882,034
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding - If-Converted
Basic Shares Outstanding, GAAP			25,401,719				25,362,576				25,454,445				25,255,327
Unvested RSUs(6)			3,808,660				2,614,537				2,979,117				1,711,829
Partnership Units(8)			15,737,781				14,965,969				15,617,822				14,782,477
If-Converted Shares Outstanding			44,948,160				42,943,082				44,051,384				41,749,633
		As of December 31,
		2024				2023
Fully-Diluted Shares Outstanding(9)			46,675,815				46,046,461

As of December 31, 2024, in relation to awards granted containing both service and market conditions, the Company had achieved a dividend adjusted 20-day volume-weighted average share price of the Company's Class A common stock in excess of the final $130 market condition. Cumulatively, 2.5 million share equivalents were included in the Company's fully-diluted share count, of which 1.0 million had satisfied both service and market conditions, with the remaining 1.5 million vesting pursuant to ongoing service conditions.

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Note: Amounts presented in tables above may not add or recalculate due to rounding.

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v3.25.0.1

Document and Entity Information	Feb. 04, 2025
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Feb. 04, 2025
Entity Registrant Name	PJT Partners Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001626115
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity File Number	001-36869
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	36-4797143
Entity Address, Address Line One	280 Park Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10017
City Area Code	(212)
Local Phone Number	364-7800
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of each class	Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol(s)	PJT
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE

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