He holds an LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Information law from the University of Houston Law Center. He has practiced law for over twenty years in the areas of tort litigation and intellectual property. He has taught as an adjunct professor at The University of Houston Law School, Rice University, South Texas College of Law and The Thomas M. Cooley law School.

Professor Thornton is a frequent invited lecturer on Sports Law and had published extensively in the area of sports law. He has also been a visiting professor at law schools in Melbourne, South Korea and Moscow, Russia. He is a member of the Michigan and Texas bars.