Alec French, Esq.
As a founder and principal in Thorsen French Advocacy, Alec French is part of an experienced, powerful team advocating the interests of his firm’s blue chip clients. Alec brings to the team a proven track record of success, unflagging work ethic, impeccable reputation, and creative problem-solving skills. Alec has more than twenty years of federal policy experience, including extensive stints in the government, corporate, and trade association worlds.
Prior to founding Thorsen French Advocacy, Alec served from 2005 to 2010 as Vice President of Government Relations for NBC Universal, where he developed and advocated NBC Universal policy positions before the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, NGOs, and in public fora. He developed significant expertise on copyright, patent, media, telecommunications, technology, tax, and trade policy.
From 2000 to 2005, Alec served as the Democratic Counsel on the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property. In this capacity, Alec reported to Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Howard L. Berman (CA - 28) and counseled the Committee Members on a variety of Internet, telecommunications, and entertainment industry issues, such as copyright protection, patent reform, trademark dilution, media consolidation, Internet privacy, media violence, Internet security, spyware, and spam.
Alec served from 1997 to 2000 as Legislative Counsel and Director of Congressional Relations for the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA, now known as the Entertainment Software Association). During his stint at IDSA, Alec played a key role in successful negotiation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act; spearheaded industry adoption of online privacy guidelines; and protected the First Amendment rights of entertainment software creators against post-Columbine legislative threats. From 1995 to 1997, Alec was an Associate at Federal Legislative Associates, where he represented clients with interests in copyright, tax, technology, security, trade secret, and trade policy before the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch.
On the personal front, Alec has a long history of volunteer public service and political engagement. He served on the Board of Special Olympics DC, as an elected Council Member for the incorporated municipality of Section 5, Chevy Chase, Md., and as an appointed Commissioner on the Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs in Takoma Park, Md. He also served as a voter protection attorney on behalf of the Clinton, Obama and Kerry Presidential campaigns, and as a GOTV volunteer in Connecticut during the 2010 campaign.
Alec earned his BA in Political Science from Duke University in 1990, received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 1995, and has been a member of the Maryland Bar since 1995.
Alec lives in Washington DC with his wife and children.