Womble Perspectives

A change in congressional leadership can quickly change the investigative landscape for businesses, even when a company isn’t accused of wrongdoing. In this episode of Womble Perspectives , Lee Van Voorhis is joined by Kristina Moore, who has 25 years of experience in congressional investigations, including 14 on Capitol Hill. They explore what the 2026 midterms could mean for congressional oversi...

The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, commonly known as MoCRA, represents the most significant expansion of FDA authority over cosmetics since 1938. For cosmetics companies, the law brings facility registration, product listing, safety substantiation, serious adverse event reporting, and stronger FDA enforcement tools into sharper focus.  In this episode, we examine how those requ...

The Third Circuit’s decision in Thomson Reuters v. ROSS provides an important appellate ruling on copyright, fair use, and the use of protected material to train a non-generative AI system.  In this episode, we examine why the court found ROSS’s use minimally transformative, how the availability of unprotected judicial opinions affected its analysis, and why the potential market for licensing trai...

Nonrecourse financing has traditionally offered commercial real estate borrowers a relatively clear boundary: if a loan defaults, the lender generally looks to the property and its cash flow rather than the borrower’s other assets or a principal’s personal balance sheet. But Womble Bond Dickinson’s article explains how that boundary is becoming less certain as lenders tighten underwriting standard...

A new bipartisan Senate proposal could reshape how major energy and infrastructure projects secure federal approvals, and how much developers can rely on those approvals once they are issued.  The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 combines changes to environmental review and permitting with new transmission development measures and cost rules affecting data centers and other l...

Episode Description A recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has significant implications for organizations managing environmental risk. The court rejected challenges to the EPA’s designation of PFOA and PFOS, two widely known PFAS compounds, as hazardous substances under CERCLA, the federal Superfund law. The ruling reinforces EPA’s authority and preserves a regulator...

Congressional oversight priorities often shift when control of the House or Senate changes hands, and companies can find themselves at the center of those changes. In this episode, we discuss how Democratic lawmakers are already laying the groundwork for potential investigations that could begin if they regain control of either chamber after the midterm elections. We explore the industries drawing...

The U.S. Department of Justice is continuing to define how it will enforce diversity, equity, and inclusion-related requirements in the federal contracting space. A recent False Claims Act settlement involving Deloitte provides new insight into the government's priorities and signals that DEI-related enforcement is becoming more structured and far-reaching. This episode explores what the sett...

In the inaugural episode of Consumer Finance Decoded , host Aaron Kouhoupt is joined by privacy and cybersecurity attorney Tyler Bridegan to explore the growing momentum behind a comprehensive federal privacy law. Drawing on Tyler's recent congressional testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the discussion examines why federal privacy legislation may be closer to becoming r...

The FCC has revised its approach to regulating certain foreign-produced power inverters, scaling back a broader restriction that was introduced over cybersecurity and national security concerns. In this episode, we examine why power inverters became a focus of federal scrutiny, how the FCC’s Covered List affects manufacturers and importers, and why compliance with Section 45X tax credit requiremen...

The CFPB’s 2026 amendments to Regulation B removed longstanding disparate impact language and adopted the position that the Equal Credit Opportunity Act does not impose disparate impact liability. That change immediately sparked litigation and renewed debate about the scope of fair lending laws. In this episode, we explore a question that matters to lenders, compliance professionals, and legal tea...

The federal government’s dispute with Anthropic has moved beyond questions about acceptable use and into a broader debate over whether a domestic technology company can be treated as a supply chain risk. For government contractors, the immediate issue is practical: agencies and military customers are requesting certifications about where Anthropic products may be used, integrated, or embedded acro...

Many companies assume gaming regulations apply only to casinos, sportsbooks, and gaming operators. In reality, regulatory oversight often extends deep into the gaming supply chain, affecting a wide range of vendors, from technology providers and payment processors to marketing agencies and contractors.  Read the Full Article About the Authors Karl F. Rutledge Glenn J. Light Donghyun Lee

The Small Business Administration has proposed one of the most significant revisions to its size standards in years, potentially expanding eligibility for small business programs across many industries. While some companies could gain access to valuable set-aside opportunities for the first time, others may face increased competition from substantially larger firms that would newly qualify as smal...

North Carolina has enacted a new law requiring the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to participate in the federal FAST-41 permitting process for certain critical energy infrastructure projects. While the law does not change environmental standards or guarantee permit approvals, it introduces new procedural requirements aimed at improving coordination between state and federal agencies. Re...

As Womble Bond Dickinson celebrates its 150th anniversary, Lori Patton sits down with Sarah Motley Stone, Charlotte Office Managing Partner, to reflect on more than two decades of growth, leadership, and service at the firm.  Sarah shares her journey from a first-year summer associate who never expected to become a litigator to a respected leader helping shape the future of one of the firm's...

Today we’re digging into a potentially groundbreaking legal ruling about AI. It’s the first time a federal court has weighed in on whether chats with an AI tool like Claude or ChatGPT can be considered privileged. Spoiler: the court said no. And this could have implications for businesses and legal teams. Read the full article Client’s Use of AI Not Protected by Attorney Client Privilege About the...

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 .

Today, we’re tackling part two of what it takes to find expert witnesses, and we’re following up with the next big question: once you’ve got a shortlist of candidates, how do you choose the best one? It turns out, it’s not just about degrees and licenses. There are multiple other factors that can make or break credibility in front of a jury. More info Finding an Expert Witness (Part 2): Best Pract...

In courtrooms across the country, cases often hinge on what’s known as the “battle of the experts.” The credibility, character, and clarity of an expert witness can make or break a case.  But, what makes an expert witness truly credible—and where do you even begin to find one who could help you win your case? Read the full article Finding an Expert Witness: Best Practices for Finding Credible Expe...

Today’s episode is part of our Recruiting Success stories series. Lori Patton, our Chief Recruiting Officer, sits down with Ana Gutierrez , head of Womble's Environmental Practice.  The two discuss leaps of faith and what led Ana to land at our firm. More about WBD's Energy and Natural Resources sector.

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

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

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

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...