While several big law firms have promoted a record number of lawyers to partner this winter, many firms also appear to be hedging their bets in who exactly they are promoting to partner as they head into an uncertain 2023.

An American Lawyer analysis of partner promotions this year uncovered a pivot to countercyclical practices at law firms of varying sizes, including at tech-oriented law firms that have made recent cuts and global law firms that haven’t projected similar signs of excess capacity.