Uptiering as an associate

Just started at a small boutique, hope I’m able to lateral at some point to a stronger tech group on west coast. With the market as weak as it is for the next 1-2 years, what would happen if I make associate before I lateral? Would a bulge bracket turn their nose up to an associate lateral from a boutique more so than an analyst? Despite hiring MBAs with zero experience in IB? Also, what do private equity placements look like for associates in IB?

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