Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 7,603us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 238us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Revenues
Advisory revenues	61,892us-gaap_InvestmentBankingRevenue	48,455us-gaap_InvestmentBankingRevenue
Investment revenues (losses)	(9)ghl_InvestmentRevenues	(4,886)ghl_InvestmentRevenues
Total revenues	61,883us-gaap_Revenues	43,569us-gaap_Revenues
Expenses
Employee compensation and benefits	33,417us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense	28,843us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense
Occupancy and equipment rental	4,860us-gaap_OccupancyNet	4,314us-gaap_OccupancyNet
Depreciation and amortization	721us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	813us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Information services	2,190	2,029
Professional fees	2,392us-gaap_ProfessionalFees	1,178us-gaap_ProfessionalFees
Travel related expenses	2,254us-gaap_TravelAndEntertainmentExpense	3,016us-gaap_TravelAndEntertainmentExpense
Interest expense	278us-gaap_InterestExpense	265us-gaap_InterestExpense
Other operating expenses	3,601us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	2,747us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating
Total expenses	49,713us-gaap_OperatingExpenses	43,205us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Income before taxes	12,170	364
Provision for taxes	$ 4,567us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	$ 126us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Average shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	30,095,902	30,061,596
Diluted (shares)	30,171,882	30,167,907
Earnings per share:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.25us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.01us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.25us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.01us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Dividends declared and paid per share (usd per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.45

The revenue derived from principal investments made by the financial institution, including interest income. Investments can include (but are not limited to) investments in private equity, alternative investment products, real estate, exchanges and memberships. Principal Investment gains or losses includes realized and unrealized investment gains or losses. Interest income includes interest earned on long-term receivables.

No definition available.