Insights
PharmaPatents
USPTO to Take a Piercing Look at National Stage Applications
USPTO’s PIER pilot program adds a new “confirm‑to‑proceed” step for selected U.S. national stage applications. The PIER program may increase costs, cause delays, and reduce patent term adjustment (PTA). The USPTO may benefit by reducing its workload without refunding examination fees.
Blogs
Patent analysis is increasingly shaping AI-driven target and drug candidate selection
Pun et al.’s recent review entitled “Target identification and assessment in the era of AI” in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery maps how…
Search Insights
Upcoming Events
April 28, 2026
Events
2026 Spring International Trade Webinar Blitz
This three-part webinar series is presented by Foley’s International Trade team to break down what has changed for companies that operate or source internationally, where risks are accelerating, and what companies should be doing now to understand and manage this evolving risk landscape.
April 30, 2026
Events
April 2026 Midwest Cyber Security Alliance Meeting | CMMC: Navigating the Road from Scope to Assessment
The panel will navigate the full CMMC life cycle, starting with applicability and organizational fit. They will then dive into technical strategy and governance, the nuances of outsourcing to MSPs, what C3PAO auditors specifically look for, and the legal risks for your organization to consider throughout the process.
May 1, 2026
Events
Operationalizing Legal Advice: The Role of Attorneys in “Getting Things Done”
Foley partner Judy Waltz, chair of the firm’s Health Care Practice Group, is speaking on the panel “Operationalizing Legal Advice: The Role of Attorneys in “Getting Things Done”” during the California Society for Healthcare Attorneys’ (CSHA) 2026 Annual Meeting & Spring Seminar.
Latest Blog Posts
April 23, 2026
Health Care Law Today
DEA Issues Long Awaited Final Order Rescheduling Certain Marijuana Products to Schedule III: What It Means, What It Doesn’t, and What Comes Next
Effective April 22, 2026, the Acting Attorney General issued a final order placing certain categories of marijuana and marijuana products into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) in accordance with President Trump’s December 18, 2025 Executive Order on Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research. This is a landmark development in federal drug policy and one that carries significant legal and business consequences for entities in the pharmaceutical, cannabis, healthcare, tax, and regulatory compliance sectors. As with most everything touching marijuana, however, the details matter enormously. Importantly, the Final Order does not broadly reclassify marijuana. Instead, it defines a narrow and conditional rescheduling that includes several important caveats, added steps, and ongoing obligations that affected parties must understand.
April 23, 2026
The Path & The Practice
Episode 136: Chanley Howell, Partner
This episode features a conversation with Chanley Howell. Chanley is a partner and intellectual property lawyer in Foley’s Jacksonville office where his practice focuses on a broad range of technology law matters. In this discussion, he reflects on growing up in Jacksonville, FL, attending Vanderbilt University for undergrad and the University of Florida College of Law.
April 23, 2026
Foley Career Perspectives
BGCA Author Series Brings Creativity and Empowerment to Boston Club Kids
Foley & Lardner’s national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is driven in our 25 North American offices through the commitment and support of our attorneys and business professionals who create unforgettable experiences for youth at local Clubs.
Latest Podcast Episodes
April 23, 2026
The Path & The Practice
Episode 136: Chanley Howell, Partner
This episode features a conversation with Chanley Howell. Chanley is a partner and intellectual property lawyer in Foley’s Jacksonville office where his practice focuses on a broad range of technology law matters. In this discussion, he reflects on growing up in Jacksonville, FL, attending Vanderbilt University for undergrad and the University of Florida College of Law.
April 15, 2026
The Path & The Practice
Episode 134: Jesse Neil, Partner
This episode features a conversation with Jesse Neil. Jesse is a healthcare attorney in Foley’s Nashville office. In this discussion, he reflects on growing-up in Nashville, TN, attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergrad and the University of Mississippi School of Law.
March 26, 2026
The Path & The Practice
Episode 133: Joe Dowdy, Partner
Joe is a litigator and the managing partner of Foley’s Raleigh office. He reflects on growing up on farm in Powells Point, NC, attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergrad and the University of North Carolina School of Law.
Latest Viewpoints
April 22, 2026
Foley Viewpoints
Mexican Supreme Court Validates the Blocking of Bank Accounts
On April 6, 2026, the Mexican Supreme Court (“SCJN”), when ruling on the constitutional challenge (acción de inconstitucionalidad) 58/2022, recognized the constitutionality of Article 116 Bis 2 of the Credit Institutions Law (“LIC”), validating the blocking of bank accounts by the Mexican Ministry of the Treasury, through its Financial Intelligence Unit (“UIF”), based on the “Blocked Persons List” when there is sufficient evidence to believe that these persons are involved in crimes of (i) terrorist financing, (ii) operations with illicit funds, or (iii) related offenses. This precedent is of particular relevance for anyone who maintains bank accounts or performs transactions through the Mexican Financial System.
April 16, 2026
Foley Viewpoints
USPTO's AI Search Pilot May Reshape Patent Filing Strategy
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Artificial Intelligence Search Automated Pilot, or ASAP, program introduces earlier visibility into the prior art landscape by providing applicants with an automated search results notice prior to substantive examination.
April 16, 2026
Foley Viewpoints
Delaware Chancery Rejects “Race to the Courthouse” in Enforcing Texas Exclusive Forum Bylaw, Dismissing Three Derivative Lawsuits filed before Tesla’s Redomestication
On April 13, 2026, the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed three derivative suits in In re Tesla, Inc. Derivative Litigation based on Tesla’s forum selection bylaw requiring that those lawsuits be brought in Texas. All three derivative lawsuits were filed after Tesla announced its proposal to redomesticate and adopt a Texas exclusive forum bylaw but before the redomestication and amended bylaw became effective after shareholder approval.