Thorne Maginnis

Associate
Thorne practices in the areas of intellectual property, advertising, and e-commerce.
B. Thorne Maginnis, Associate at Arent Fox

Thorne offers a comprehensive brand management practice in the fields of intellectual property, advertising, and e-commerce. He helps companies navigate legal challenges throughout the brand lifecycle—from developing and securing their IP to leveraging brand assets and managing their digital presence. Thorne counsels clients in a variety of industries, including fashion and retail, consumer products, media and entertainment, food and beverage, and hospitality. 

Thorne has broad IP experience, with a focus on trademark and copyright portfolio management and counseling. Thorne’s IP practice extends to clearance, prosecution, enforcement, and dispute management, including TTAB proceedings and UDRP domain name disputes. Thorne also has considerable experience drafting and negotiating trademark, copyright, and publicity rights agreements, and he frequently counsels clients on IP matters pertaining to AI and other emerging technologies. 

His IP practice is complemented by expertise in the fields of advertising and e-commerce, where he advises clients on federal and state false advertising, unfair competition, consumer protection, and internet laws and regulations. This includes issues arising under the Lanham Act, the FTC Act, regulatory matters within the FTC’s purview (including influencer, product labeling, and commercial email rules), and the CDA. Thorne also counsels clients on compliance with laws regulating charitable sales promotions, auto-renewing contracts, consumer loyalty programs, online gaming, and sweepstakes and contests. He also helps clients manage risk by developing terms of service and other policies for their digital platforms.

Previous Work

Before joining ArentFox Schiff, Thorne was with the firm as a summer associate in 2013. Before that, he was a law clerk at the Civil Division of the US Department of Justice. Prior to law school, he spent two years as a legislative aide to a member of the US House of Representatives, handling a variety of domestic policy issues.

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Publications

Thorne is a prolific writer for ArentFox Schiff’s Fashion Counsel and Behind the Scenes blogs. His additional publications include:

Presentations

  • “Generative AI: How Retail & Hospitality Companies are Adapting, Assessing Risk, and Asking More of their Outside Counsel,” 2023 DRI Retail and Hospitality Litigation Seminar, November 2023
  • “Challenges and Opportunities of Advertising in a New Technological Era,” Brazilian Intellectual Property Association´s International Congress, August 2023.
  • “Competitive Practices & Trademark Use,” INTA Annual Meeting, May 2019.

Life Beyond the Law

A Louisiana native, Thorne closely follows the LSU Tigers and New Orleans Pelicans. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the DC food and music scenes.