Womble Perspectives

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 requirements played an important role in the agency’s latest decision.

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About the Authors

• Jill Canfield
• Kristina M. Moore

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 teams: what happens if courts ultimately reject the CFPB’s interpretation?

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About the Authors

• Brian Fink
• Christopher Greenidge

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 across their operations and supply chains. 

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About the Authors

• Christopher Lockwood
• Michael W. Mutek 

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. 

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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 small businesses.

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About the Authors

• Joshua A. Mullen
• Christopher L. Lockwood

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.

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About the Authors

• Thomas J. Dougherty
• James Bernier, Jr.
• Grace Hearn
• Ami P. Patel

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 largest offices. The conversation explores the enduring impact of mentorship, the role of trust and integrity in firm culture, the realities of balancing career and family, and the lessons learned from stepping into leadership. 

Sarah also offers thoughtful perspectives on the future of the legal profession, the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence, and why embracing change while staying grounded in core values remains essential for long-term success.

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.

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• Client’s Use of AI Not Protected by Attorney Client Privilege

About the authors

• Ian P. O’Keefe
• Hayden J. Silver, III
• Scott D. Anderson
• Luke Cass 

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 Practices for Choosing the Best Candidate
• Part 1: Where to Look and What to Ask to Find the Right Witness for Your Case

About the author

• Kim Beane