
Hosted by Womble Bond Dickinson · EN
Welcome to Womble Perspectives, where we explore a wide range of topics from the latest legal updates to industry trends to the business of law. Our team of lawyers, professionals and occasional outside guests will take you through the most pressing issues facing businesses today and provide practical and actionable advice to help you navigate the ever-changing legal landscape. With a focus on innovation, collaboration and client service, we are committed to delivering exceptional value to our clients and to the communities we serve.

In this episode of Womble Perspectives, Chief Recruiting Officer Lori Patton sits down with partner Chris Douglas to explore her two-decade journey at the firm. Chris shares how her passion for learning shaped her path from litigation to leadership.About Chris Douglas

What began as a backyard celebration now draws over a thousand people to support food insecurity in Middle Tennessee. Bill Ramsey takes us inside the evolution of “Ode to Otha” and why community leadership starts with showing up.Tickets: Ode to OthaAbout the event: Ode to Otha: Bill Ramsey Honors Friend & Legendary Musician Otha Turner with Annual Charity Event

Food doesn’t travel a straight line from farm to fork, and when safety issues arise, tracing that journey can be challenging. In this episode, we break down FDA’s Food Traceability Rule, why it was created, and what it means for companies handling higher-risk foods. From past produce outbreaks to new recordkeeping expectations and the extended compliance timeline, we explore how traceability is evolving. And what businesses can do now to prepare for what’s ahead.Read the full articleFrom Farm to Fork: Understanding FDA’s Food TraceabilityAbout the AuthorJennifer German

In April 2026, the European Union adopted a landmark Directive on Combating Corruption, creating the first harmonized criminal anti-corruption framework across all Member States. In this episode, we break down what the Directive does, how it expands corporate liability, why its jurisdictional reach matters for multinational companies, and how it goes further than the FCPA in critical ways. We also discuss why perceived shifts in U.S. enforcement do not justify scaling back compliance—and what companies should be doing now to prepare for the new European enforcement reality.Read the articleThe EU’s New Anti-Corruption Directive—What it Means for Global Companies as FCPA Enforcement ShiftsAbout the authorsLuke CassAudrey N. Karman

In this episode of Womble Perspectives, host Lee Van Voorhis is joined by Kristina Moore to discuss what companies—particularly in the energy and data center sectors—should know about Congressional investigations and oversight. Kristina draws on her extensive Capitol Hill experience to explain how these inquiries differ from traditional regulatory or enforcement actions, including the practical realities of subpoenas, privilege concerns, and political dynamics. The conversation covers current and potential oversight priorities in both the House and Senate, along with what executives and general counsel can do now to reduce risk and prepare. About Kristina MooreAbout Lee Van Voorhis

In this episode, we’re diving into a critical topic that deals with the future of energy: spent nuclear fuel, or SNF. And as of right now, the U.S. has more than 91,000 metric tons of SNF sitting in storage with no permanent solution. That’s a truly staggering number. Especially since about 95% of that material can actually be reused. And through reprocessing and recycling, we could turn what we call “waste” into new reactor fuel, which would dramatically reduce high-level waste.Read the full articleUnlocking the Potential of Spent Nuclear Fuel – Renewed Interest in Reprocessing and Recycling in the United StatesAbout the authorThomas J. Dougherty

Today we're breaking down a copyright decision out of the Southern District of New York. On January 8, 2026, the court granted Universal Music Group’s motion to dismiss in a case brought by hip‑hop legends Salt‑N‑Pepa. Read the full articleUniversal Music Group’s Recent Success in Blocking Section 203 Termination Rights Could Pose a Threat to Artists’ Abilities to Reclaim Sound Recording Rights in the Future.About the authorsWilliam T. RamseyMariam N. StocktonDani Bhadare-Valente

By now, we all know that Generative AI models are trained on massive amounts of data, much of which is collected from the Internet, as well as other sources.This AI is also generating tons of new content, much of which ends up online. But what happens when this AI-generated content is used again to train the AI models?Read the full article.About the authorDr. Christian E. Mammen

Today we’re digging into the energy demands of artificial intelligence and the political pressure it’s creating. Senate Democrats are calling out Big Tech over the skyrocketing electricity consumption of data centers powering AI, which makes this not just a tech topic, but a conversation about consumer costs, infrastructure, and the politics of energy.Read the full articleSenate Democrats Press Big Tech on the Cost of AI’s Soaring Energy DemandsAbout the authorKristina Moore

Today we’re unpacking our new Energy Outlook 2026. This is our fifth global energy sector report, and with insights from more than 650 senior leaders across energy companies, investors, service providers, and energy-intensive consumers worldwide, it paints a fairly comprehensive picture of what’s ahead. Read more2026 Global Energy Sector Under Pressure2026 Energy Report