All Professionals
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
- Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America (2022)
- Power Lawyer, The Hollywood Reporter (2018, 2022)
- Industry Change-Maker, Variety's Women's Impact Report (2022)
- Top Attorney in the Entertainment Business, Variety’s Legal Impact Report (2018, 2021, 2022)
- The Legal 500 USA, Media and Entertainment: Litigation (2022)
- Chambers USA, Media & Entertainment: Litigation (2013-2022)
- Most Influential Intellectual Property Lawyer, The Los Angeles Business Journal (2017)
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
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.