Womble Perspectives

Welcome back to Womble Perspectives. Today, we’re diving into the increasingly complex world of food labeling—specifically, how nontraditional meat products are navigating a growing regulatory maze. As plant-based and cultivated meats gain popularity, lawmakers and regulators are stepping in to ensure consumers aren’t misled. But what does that mean for the words we use—like “beef,” “chicken,” or...

Today, we’re diving into a story that’s been making waves: radioactive shrimp. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s very real. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents recently intercepted multiple shipments of cloves and frozen shrimp from two Indonesian islands—Java and Sumatra—that tested positive for Cesium-137. So what comes next? Read the full article FDA Wields Additional I...

Today’s episode is part of our Recruiting Success stories series. Lori Patton, our Chief Recruiting Officer, sits down with Alex de Gramont, a partner in the Business Litigation Group, and leader of the firm’s International Disputes Practice. 

Today’s topic is a federal case that’s got some in the sports world playing defense: charges against former and current NBA players and coaches for illegal sports gambling, rigged poker games, and organized crime. Read the full article Former and Current NBA Players and Coaches Have Been Charged Under Federal Law. What Law? About the authors Glenn J. Light Karl F. Rutledge Jason C. Hicks Don Lee

In today's episode, we’re talking about something that most people probably didn’t know was a thing: buying buildings from the federal government.  Read the full article Guide to Buying Buildings From the Federal Government About the authors Pamela V. Rothenberg Patrice Z. Howard, Ph. D.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into a pretty big shift in how lab-developed tests are regulated in the United States. If you’re up on FDA developments, you may have heard that there’s an effort to regulate these tests as medical devices. But a recent federal court ruling in Texas just flipped the script. Instead of agreeing with the FDA, the court basically said, “Nope, lab-developed tests aren’...

Today we’re unpacking a major shift in immigration enforcement that’s already reshaping how employers and employees interact with federal agencies. On October 6, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services entered a new chapter. Traditionally known for processing immigration paperwork, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services now holds law enforcement powers once reserve...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into a pair of Federal Circuit decisions that offer some powerful lessons for patent practitioners—especially when it comes to claim drafting and arguing non-obviousness. Read the full article Watch Your Step: Negative Claim Limitations Present Pitfalls and Secondary Considerations are No Safety Net About the authors Reid Barber Cory Schug

Welcome back to Womble Perspectives. Today’s episode is the second in a series focusing on the complex world of international trade. From shifting tariff policies to trade agreements, we’re exploring the forces shaping global trade. Whether you’re a seasoned economist, business leader, or simply curious about how trade impacts your daily life, this series will bring you the insights you need to st...

On July 31st, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced sweeping changes to the safety labeling of all opioid pain medications. These updates aim to better communicate the risks of long-term opioid use—risks that include misuse, addiction, overdose, and a range of serious side effects. For drug manufacturers, this means updating product labels to help patients, doctors, pharmacists, an...

Today’s episode sits at the intersection of culture, commerce, and creativity, diving into a trademark dispute that’s got both the fashion and music industries watching closely. It’s a case that asks: Can a rock band’s name really confuse consumers into thinking they’re buying luxury jewelry? Read the full article He Has His Heart of Gold…. Why Not a Chrome Heart, Too? About the author Lori B. Coh...

Welcome back to Womble Perspectives. Today’s episode is the first in a series focusing on the complex world of international trade. From shifting tariff policies to trade agreements, we’re exploring the forces shaping global trade. Whether you’re a seasoned economist, business leader, or simply curious about how trade impacts your daily life, this series will bring you the insights you need to sta...

Today’s episode is part of our Recruiting Success stories series. Lori Patton, our Chief Recruiting Officer, sits down with Tomio Narita, a partner in our San Francisco office and co-leader of the firm’s Class Action Defense Team. More about WBD's Class Action Litigation practice .

Recently, the White House and the FDA issued statements suggesting a possible connection between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of autism and ADHD. These announcements have prompted strong reactions from the scientific community. Organizations like The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and The World Health Organization have responded with caution, emphasizing...

Today, we’re diving into the ripple effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and what it means for the data center sector. Read the full article OBBBA’s Ripple Effect: Strategic Implications for the Data Center Sector About the authors Kristina Moore Stephen Snyder David Beckstead Trevor Tomlinson

Aldi, the discount supermarket chain, has built a strong and growing fan base. It’s on track to open over 225 new stores this year, positioning itself as a low-cost alternative to traditional brands. You’ve probably heard their former slogan: “Like brands, only cheaper.” That’s the heart of their business model—offering private-label products that resemble national brands, but at a lower price. Re...

Today, we’re diving into an international legal battle that’s been making its way through the gaming world: a patent dispute between Nintendo and the creators of Palworld. Read the full article Gotta Catch ’Em All...In Court?: Nintendo Bolsters U.S. Patent Portfolio In Wake of Japanese Lawsuit Against Pocketpair About the authors Reid Barber John H. Wright, III

Welcome to today’s episode of Womble Perspectives, where we’ll be diving into how artificial intelligence is helping shape the health care landscape. As in other industries, AI can be a powerful ally for healthcare professionals. From organizing medical records to streamlining medication management and simplifying clinical documentation, AI is helping clinicians save time and improve accuracy.  Bu...

Today, we’re revisiting a story that’s as provocative as it is legally fascinating: the ongoing trademark battle over the F-word. Read the full article F-Word as a Trademark? Federal Circuit Leaves the Door Open as it Vacates TTAB’s Decision About the authors Jennifer A. Van Kirk Erica R. Halstead Lori B. Cohen

Construction projects can be incredibly exciting. But, with big investments come big responsibilities, and unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. The truth is, most project owners aren’t construction experts. They’re stepping into a world dominated by contractors who have years of specialized experience. This creates an imbalance of knowledge, which can make identifying problems early b...

When we think about the human body, we often consider systems we learned about in biology class, like the central nervous system, the endocrine system, or maybe even the sympathetic nervous system. But today we’re shining a light on a crucial—but relatively new discovery in human physiology called the endocannabinoid system, or ECS for short.   Read the full article Unlocking the Secrets of the En...

Today’s episode is part of our Recruiting Success stories series. Lori Patton, our Chief Recruiting Officer, sits down with Jeff Whittle , a partner in our Houston office and Head of our Global Energy and Natural Resources team. The two discuss Jeff’s journey with Womble, his initial leap of faith to join the firm, and his experience in building the Houston office.  More about WBD's Energy an...

Have you ever wandered through the grocery store, faced with what feels like endless aisles of options, and stopped at a product labeled 'healthy' because you trusted what that word means? Well, turns out, things are a bit more complicated than they seem. The FDA has been at the forefront of defining what 'healthy' means on food labels, and they just released an updated definit...

On June 5, 2025, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office, or ICO, issued a £2.3 million fine—about $3.1 million U.S.—against California-based genetic testing company 23andMe. The reason? A serious data breach that exposed the sensitive personal data of 150,000 UK individuals. Let’s unpack what happened—and why it matters far beyond the biotech sector. Read the full article: The ICO’s Penalty Ag...

Today, we’re looking at a provocative development in reproductive science: selecting embryos based on projected intelligence. Picture this: a couple undergoing IVF is presented with three embryos. They’re told each has a different predicted IQ. Embryo 1, 2, or 3—who’s likely to be the smartest? Read the full article The Intersection of Genetics and Law: Navigating New Frontiers About the author Ch...