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.
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
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
news
- Nine Paul Hastings Partners Recognized in 2022 Variety Legal Impact Report - April 20th, 2022
- Four Paul Hastings Partners Recognized as Power Lawyers by The Hollywood Reporter - March 30th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Celebrated as Most Impressive Investigations Practice at Global Investigations Review’s Annual Awards - November 10th, 2021
- Paul Hastings Ranked as Top Three Firm for New Rankings and Recognized for Numerous Practice Strength and Growth in Chambers USA 2021 - May 21st, 2021
- Ten Paul Hastings Attorneys Named to Variety's 2021 Legal Impact Report - April 12th, 2021
- Paul Hastings Advances the Growth of its Entertainment and Media Practice with Addition of Leading Litigator in Los Angeles - January 21st, 2021
Recognitions
- Paul Hastings Partners Named Power Lawyers by The Hollywood Reporter - March 30th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Named 'White Collar Group of the Year' by Law360 - January 27th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Championed as Most Impressive Investigations Practice by Global Investigations Review - November 10th, 2021
- Paul Hastings Litigation Practice Recognized by Chambers USA 2021 - May 28th, 2021
- Recognized by Chambers USA 2021 - May 21st, 2021
- Recognized in Variety's 2021 Legal Impact Report - April 8th, 2021
Engagement & Publications
- 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.
Practice Areas
Complex Litigation and Arbitration
Entertainment and Media
Investigations and White Collar Defense
Intellectual Property
Entertainment and Media -- Litigation
Litigation
White Collar Defense
Languages
English
Admissions
California Bar
Education
USC Gould School of Law, J.D. 1996
California State University, Northridge, M.A. 1994
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. 1987