Edward T. Fenno

Edward 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 1994, he has represented clients in both transactional and litigation matters involving defamation, privacy, newsgathering, copyright, trademark, computer software, website, music and television-related issues. 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, Mr. Fenno went on to receive his law degree from the University of Southern California. Before establishing his own firm in 2006, he honed his skills over 11 years at large firms – first in Los Angeles for five years and then in Charleston for six – where he cultivated a deep understanding of news media concerns, along with technology and entertainment law issues. 

In addition to his selection to Super Lawyers®, Mr. Fenno was selected to The Best Lawyers in America® for 2027 for intellectual property litigation. He has also been peer-review rated AV Preeminent® 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 by Marquis.

Mr. Fenno has contributed significantly to legal scholarship and education. He recently assisted the South Carolina legislature with legal analysis of a proposed privacy law that has now been enacted as the Disclosure of Intimate Images Act.  He also 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 law, copyright, trademark and sports & entertainment law before organizations including the South Carolina Press Association, the South Carolina Broadcasters Association and the Charleston County Bar Association. 

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 other articles addressing topic such as internet privacy, electronic publication and visual arts. 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.