For a lot of firms, nonequity partners are replacing counsel to a large degree. As firms add nonequity partners and focus on lateral recruiting, they may have less need for counsel ranks. Counsel tiers have tension with senior associate and junior nonequity partners in pay and promotions. Still, some firms are using the counsel tier as an umbrella term for multiple points in an attorney’s career. As many law firms increase their associate pay and add nonequity partners, they may leave an established rank of attorney in the dust. Sabina Lippman, a partner at the legal recruiting firm Lippman Jungers, said: “Firms like Kirkland are making associates into nonequity partners earlier and earlier, which is creating a domino effect where some firms are making nonequity partners earlier as well.”