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, and Fortune 500 companies across industries regularly turn to her to help them protect their most significant assets and lead investigations in times of crisis. Tammy’s clients have high praise for her work:
- “Tammy is skilled at providing thoughtful and practical advice on complicated matters.”
- “I think incredibly highly of her – she is phenomenal. A practical, responsive and great litigator.”
- “She is a talented and insightful litigator with particular skill handling sensitive matters. Tammy analyzes issues creatively and thoroughly, preparing case strategy from the beginning.”
Tammy’s work in investigations is equally compelling. Because of the thoughtful way that she conducts investigations, they tend to avoid litigation.
- As Tammy explains to her clients—“how you conduct an investigation is as important as doing an investigation. The goal is to ensure that the organization is healthier and stronger when your work is completed.”
Recognitions
- Power Lawyer, The Hollywood Reporter (2018, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Top Attorney in the Entertainment Business, Variety’s Legal Impact Report (2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America (2022, 2024)
- Industry Change-Maker, Variety's Women's Impact Report (2022)
- The Legal 500 USA, Media and Entertainment: Litigation (2024)
- Chambers USA, Media & Entertainment: Litigation (2013-2024)
- Most Influential Intellectual Property Lawyer, The Los Angeles Business Journal (2017)
Education
- Judicial Clerkship, Hon. Harry L. Hupp, Central District of California
- USC Gould School of Law, J.D., Order of the Coif; Southern California Law Review Notes Editor
- Cal State Northridge, M.A., English Literature
- UCLA, B.A., English Literature and Political Science
Representations
Exemplary Litigation Experience
- Representing NBCUniversal, Bravo, and Andy Cohen in their ongoing arbitration with Nene Leakes, a former cast member of the Real Housewives of Atlanta.
- Counsel for Mobland, a cryptocurrency gaming site, in its federal court copyright action and in a contract breach arbitration.
- Represented Justin Weniger (former CEO of the Life is Beautiful Music Festival, as well as Connie Yeh and Chrissie Yim—long-time advisors to Tony Hsieh (the founder of Zappos)— in the ongoing litigation by the Hsieh Estate over decisions made by Tony Hsieh before his untimely death.
- Obtained summary judgment and attorneys’ fees for Life is Beautiful Music Festival in a trademark and copyright suit (affirmed on appeal).
- Represented Transocean as a member of the second phase trial team for the BP oil spill litigation.
- Represented Warner Bros., in its highly publicized dispute with Charlie Sheen, for which she received a California Lawyer Attorney of the Year Award.
- 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.
Exemplary Investigations Experience
- Handled the confidential investigations of alleged misconduct by senior executives in numerous influential media companies and other Fortune 100 Companies.
- Led the Bachelor in Paradise Investigation.
- Represented Tesla in the DOJ investigate on of the “Go Private” Tweets and representations made about the production of the Model 3.
- Led the second phase investigation as to the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Engagement & Publications
- “The Supreme Court Affirms the Availability of Copyright Damages Beyond Three Years If the Discovery Rule Applies” https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/the-supreme-court-affirms-the-3763769/
- “Recent Rulings on ‘Embedding’ Foreshadow Circuit Split—What Does that mean for Content Use Now?” https://www.paulhastings.com/insights/attorney-authored/recent-rulings-on-embedding-foreshadow-circuit-split-what-does-that-mean-for
- ABA’s Annual Conference of the Forum on Communications Law, Speaker, Hot Issues in Entertainment (2022)
- USC IP Institute, Speaker, “Guitars, Cadillacs, and Termination Disputes” (2021)
Involvement
- Chair, USC IP Institute, 2024-2025
- Founder, Public Funds Public Schools with the Education Law Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center
- Officer, The Pasadena Educational Foundation Board
- Past President and Board Member, The Armory Center for the Arts
- Board Member, Muse/Ique
- Board Member, Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation
- Board Member and Secretary, Los Angeles Review of Books Board
- Former 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, which investigated the violence in LA County Jails and provided recommendations for moving forward
- Member, 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.