Womble Perspectives

Data privacy has evolved from being an IT afterthought to a business-critical priority. With consumers demanding greater control over their personal information, U.S. states continue to step up with new legislation—making 2025 a landmark year. Eight new state privacy laws are going into effect, joining existing frameworks like California’s CPRA. For businesses, 2025 brings both legal challenges and an opportunity to enhance trust and transparency.

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…But Wait, There’s More!

About the authors
Kyle G. Kessler, CIPP/E
Christine Xiao, CIPP/US
Tyler Connor, CIPP/US

The relationship between the United States and Latin America has always had profound economic and financial implications. With geographical proximity, significant immigration interconnectivity, and trade dependencies, Latin American economies are deeply intertwined with that of the U.S.. Under a second Trump administration, the region faces both challenges and opportunities as it navigates changing trade policies, financing models, and regulatory landscapes.

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Prospects for Latin American Finance Under a Second Trump Administration

About the author
David Contreiras Tyler

The U.S. Department of Justice has recently narrowed its approach to enforcing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, also referred to as the FCPA. Through a new directive issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi, the DOJ is shifting its focus to prioritize foreign bribery cases tied to cartels and transnational criminal organizations. This marks a significant development in FCPA enforcement and has stirred up conversations in legal, compliance, and executive circles.

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DOJ Narrows FCPA Enforcement Focus

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Audrey N. Karman

Announced by President Donald Trump on February 12, the Executive Order "One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations" represents a major shift in how the U.S. government implements its foreign policy. This directive demands that consular and foreign officers strictly adhere to the President's policies, warning that failure to do so may result in professional discipline or separation from government service.  

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Executive Order: One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations

About the author
Lynn O’Brien

Trademark audits are a critical tool for maintaining the reliability and integrity of a nation’s trademark register. They ensure that trademarks genuinely in use are protected, while unused marks—often called "deadwood"—are cleared to make room for new applicants. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - that is, the USPTO - has led the charge in this domain since 2017, leveraging its audit program to declutter its register and keep trademark owners accountable. Now, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, or CIPO has followed the USPTO’s example by initiating its own pilot audit program.

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Prove It or Lose It: How USPTO’s Audit Program Inspired Canada’s Trademark Oversight

About the author
Erica R. Halstead

In today's episode of Womble Perspectives, we’re digging into some of the recent developments of the Corporate Transparency Act, or CTA, and why its compliance requirements remain on hold—for now.  

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Corporate Transparency Act Compliance Still on Hold, For Now

About the authors
Scott D. DeWald
Andrew F. Dixon
Alexander Hill
Laura A. Lo Bianco
Alexandria P. Murphy
Mark D. Patton
Matthew C. Sweger
Amanda L. Thatcher
Karen L. Witt

Today, we’re tackling an especially important topic for employers looking to sponsor foreign talent—the updates to the H-1B Cap Registration process and rules for 2025.  

 From changes in fees to new rules defining what qualifies as a specialty occupation, these updates could significantly impact how businesses hire international talent.   

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H-1B Cap Registration to Open on March 7, 2025

About the authors
Lynn O’Brien

The world is on the brink of a revolutionary shift in how we produce and consume energy. Every policy maker, energy supplier, and commercial consumer has a role to play in this grand transition. With the release of Womble Bond Dickinson's fourth annual survey, "Energizing Tomorrow: Global Energy Transition Outlook 2025," we have a clearer picture of where we stand and where we are headed. This report not only highlights the progress made but also underscores the challenges that lie ahead as we strive to balance the energy trilemma of security, affordability, and sustainability.

Read our full report.

Today, we’re diving into the world of contracts with a focus on a critical component that can save businesses when disaster strikes: the force majeure clause. Natural disasters and global crises seem to be growing both in frequency and intensity, and businesses must adapt to survive. Recent hurricanes, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic have all disrupted industries, leaving business owners scrambling to mitigate the fallout. Enter: the force majeure clause.

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The Importance of Understanding Force Majeure Clauses in Contracts Amid Recent Disasters

About the authors:
Patrick T. Strubbe
Russ Ferguson

Do you know what happens when the legal system meets cutting-edge technology and global commerce? Well, we get cases like Abitron Austria GmbH v. Hetronic International. It’s a recent Supreme Court case that seems straightforward on the surface but raises a lot of intriguing questions—especially as we think about the future of commerce in the metaverse.  

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What in the [Meta]World?: Abitron Creates More Questions than Answers

About the author
Daniel M. Grigore
Carrie Richey