Twenty-Fifth Floor
Los Angeles, CA
90071
United States
Fax: 1(213) 996-3230
Los Angeles, CA
90067
United States
Fax: 1(310) 620-5818
Overview
Tamerlin Godley is a partner in the Litigation practice, based in the Los Angeles office. She excels at handling complex business litigation disputes and sensitive company investigations. Major studios, networks, recording companies and music publishers regularly turn to her to help them protect their most significant assets. As a longtime advisor to the nation's leading content producers and owners, including WarnerMedia, Warner Bros., Turner, HBO, NBCUniversal, and Warner Music Group, Tamerlin is frequently sought for her deep expertise in the issues facing the media and entertainment industry.
Accolades and Recognitions
Ranked in Entertainment and Media, Chambers USA
Most Influential Intellectual Property Lawyer, The Los Angeles Business Journal, 2017
Power Lawyer, The Hollywood Reporter, 2018
Top Attorney in the Entertainment Business, Variety's Legal Impact Report, 2018
Education
Judicial Clerkship, Hon. Harry L. Hupp, Central District of California, 1996-1997
USC Gould School of Law, J.D., 1996; Order of the Coif; Southern California Law Review Notes Editor
Cal State Northridge, M.A., 1993
UCLA, B.A., 1987
news
Speaking Engagements
Speaker, National Organization of Lawyers for Education Associations (NOLEA) Annual Conference, October 2017
Panelist, Content Rights, Licensing and Technology Solutions in Media and Entertainment: Implementation of Technology Strategies, Digital Hollywood Fall Conference, October 2017
Speaker, Up, Up, and Away: Flying High in Private Practice, Ms. JD's Eighth Annual Conference on Superwomen JDs, February 2016
Panelist, JAMS Neutrals Training on Film Industry Litigation, November 2015
Involvement
Planning Committee, USC IP Institute
Founder, Public Funds Public Schools with the Education Law Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center
Leader, The Pasadena Educational Foundation
Past President and Board Member, The Armory Center for the Arts
Board Member, Muse/Ique
Member, Equal Voices Advisory Counsel, National Democratic Institute
Former Member (two terms), The Pasadena Human Relations Commission
Former Elected Official, South Pasadena School Board
Deputy General Counsel, The Citizens' Commission on Jail Violence
Served on the Rampart Independent Review Panel, which investigated and analyzed the Los Angeles Police Department's discipline and oversight practices
Former Member and Officer, LA County Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Services.
Recent Representations
Handled the confidential investigations of alleged misconduct by senior executives in numerous influential media companies
Led the sensitive Bachelor in Paradise Investigation
Obtained summary judgment and attorneys' fees for Life is Beautiful Music Festival in a trademark and copyright suit (affirmed on appeal)
Represented Warner Bros., in its highly publicized dispute with Charlie Sheen, for which she received a California Lawyer Attorney of the Year Award
Represented Transocean as a member of the second phase trial team for the BP oil spill litigation
Overturned the largest FINRA award ever issued on behalf of Citigroup
Led successful defenses for a variety of class actions representing Warner Music Group, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, MGM, and Fox
Obtained a Demurrer for Telepictures in a trade secret suit regarding "The Real"
Obtained expedited summary judgment on behalf of the NAACP, school districts, and students permanently vacating the Betsy DeVos rule that attempted to siphon off hundreds of millions of CARES Act funds away from public schools for the benefit of affluent private school students.
Led the pro bono team that obtained a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of Nevada's sweeping voucher law, which risked diversion of more than $200 million from the public schools
Successfully argued before the Nevada Supreme Court, against well-known Supreme Court advocate Paul Clement, to permanently keep the voucher law from going into effect