Edward T. Fenno

Edward T. Fenno is the founder and managing member of Fenno Law Firm in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where he has built a distinguished practice at the intersection of media, internet, intellectual property, technology and entertainment law. Since earning his South Carolina law license in 2000, he has represented clients in both transactional and litigation matters involving defamation, privacy, newsgathering, copyright, trademark, computer software, website and music-related disputes. His repertoire extends to commercial and contract controversies, as well as constitutional law challenges, reflecting a versatile advocacy grounded in rigorous legal analysis.

A graduate of Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Mr. Fenno went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. Before establishing his own firm in 2006, he honed his skills over 11 years in private practice – first in Los Angeles for five years and then in Charleston for six – where he cultivated a deep understanding of both entertainment industry issues and regional media concerns. Furthermore, he has been AV Preeminent* peer-review rated through Martindale-Hubbell since 2013, as well as listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in American Law.

Beyond his law practice, Mr. Fenno has contributed significantly to legal scholarship and education. He served as co-chair of the Media Law Resource Center’s Newsgathering Committee from 2018 to 2022 and has lectured widely on topics such as internet law, newsgathering ethics, copyright, trademark and entertainment law before organizations including the South Carolina Press Association, the South Carolina Broadcasters Association and the Charleston Lawyers Club. 

Mr. Fenno’s publications include “Protection Under CDA § 230 and Responsibility for ‘Development’ of Third-Party Content” (28 Communications Lawyer 2, 2011), “Public Figure Libel: The Premium on Ignorance and the Race to the Bottom” (4 Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal 253, 1995) and several articles addressing federal internet privacy and electronic republication issues. A former journalist and professional tennis player, he brings both a storyteller’s insight and a competitor’s drive to every legal challenge he undertakes.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.