While interest rate deductions in 2024 may bring more confidence to business leaders, some Big Law dealmakers say they also are looking at other factors to see whether M&A volume will rise beyond the lower levels seen in 2023.

Inflation, another hard-to-scratch itch for dealmakers, is also beginning to ebb. According to Fed data, the goal is to get inflation to 2.4% in 2024, to 2.2% in 2025 and back to the target rate of 2% by 2026.