Big Law M&A Market Sees Reboot on Possible Interest Rate Easing

The possibility of easing of interest rates is bringing a whiff of optimism to Big Law merger and acquisition operations hungering for activity this year.

Investors see rates peaking at 4.9% in May and then falling by a full percentage point through January, Bloomberg data showed Monday. Cuts would help shake the doldrums from an M&A market where deals are down 50% from last year.

“If your deal is contingent upon getting debt financing in place at closing, certainly lowering the rates is going to make that more attractive,” said Scott L. Allen, co-chair of Morris, Manning & Martin’s private ...