Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Future Minimum Lease Payments
2013	$ 8,789,000
2014	6,922,000
2015	6,293,000
2016	5,850,000
2017	5,538,000
Thereafter	38,364,000
Total	71,756,000
Sublease Rental Income
2013	1,800,000
2014	860,000
2015	502,000
Total	3,162,000
Net Lease Payments
2013	6,989,000
2014	6,062,000
2015	5,791,000
2016	5,850,000
2017	5,538,000
Thereafter	38,364,000
Total	68,594,000
Rental expense, net of sublease rental income	4,800,000	4,800,000	8,100,000
Termination fee and commissions related to termination of lease			3,200,000
Remaining commitment related to lease ceased			700,000
Litigation and Other Claims
Communications having material adverse effect on the company's business	0
Letters of Credit
Contingent liability under stand-by letter of credit agreements	4,900,000	4,900,000
Other
Maximum potential future payments under guarantee indemnification arrangements by Gleacher Securities	0
Maximum potential future payments under warranty indemnification arrangements by Gleacher Securities	0
Deposit with FICC	8,800,000	15,200,000
Collateralized amount of funds, which was transferred by the lenders to the company to satisfy commitment obligation		$ 4,600,000