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KARLENE W. GOLLER
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Of Counsel |
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Karlene Goller is a clearance expert with more than 30 years of experience vetting content for publication and distribution on all platforms. She provides strategic counseling to assist news gathering and publishing of all forms of content -- nonfiction, fiction and advertising -- to mitigate liability for defamation, invasion of privacy, right of publicity, copyright and trademark infringements.
Karlene is the former Los Angeles Times Vice President, Legal and Deputy General Counsel. She was the sole First Amendment and content counsel for the Los Angeles Times Media Group for more than 20 years, responsible for the editorial legal affairs and intellectual property of its news operations, digital properties, daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, television and radio broadcasts and cable shows.
She has extensive experience assisting clients in accessing public records, court records, and both government and judicial proceedings. Karlene defends global for-profit and non-profit media companies, start-ups, websites, journalists, producers, filmmakers, podcasters and authors from prior restraints, pre-publication demands, post-publication cease and desists, subpoenas and retraction demands. She is an intellectual property specialist, experienced in licensing content on all platforms via all technologies, and in negotiating and drating collaboration MOUs, distribution agreements and commercial contracts.
NOTABLE CASES (L.A. TIMES IN-HOUSE REPRESENTATION)
Long Beach Police Officers' Association v. City of Long Beach, 59 Cal. 4th 59 (2014). Won California Supreme Court decision holding that the press and public presumptively are entitled to
the identities of officers involved in shooting incidents in California under the California Public
Records Act (CPRA).
Los Angeles Times v. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, 2013 Cal. Super. LEXIS 12578 (Cal.
Super. Ct. 2013) Brown Act and CPRA lawsuit obtaining court order requiring joint state-county-city
agency that operates the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to produce documents and record closed
sessions for three years. The Times was paid more than $340,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs.
Burkle v. Burkle,139 Cal. App. 4th 712 (2006). Successfully challenged state statute restricting access to court
records in divorce cases, establishing binding law that divorce records are subject to constitutional
right access in California.
Wen Ho Lee v. U.S. Dept. of Justice (D.D.C. 2002-2006). Successfully represented non-party LA Times
reporter Bob Drogin, who was subpoenaed, but did not disclose, confidential source information in
federal Privacy Act case against the government.
The Clergy Cases I, (L.A. Super. Ct., Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings 2005).
Successfully intervened to oppose protective order in settlement of civil case brought against the
Orange County Diocese by alleged victims of molestation by priests and other employees of the
Diocese, won access to sealed docket and court records, including most of the personnel files and other
information about priests and other employees.
Thomas v. Los Angeles Times, 189 F. Supp. 2d 1005 (C.D. Cal. 2002), aff’d, (9 th Cir. 2002). Successfully
defended and won attorneys fees for newspaper and its reporter in defamation claim using California
anti-SLAPP statute in federal court.
Sister Judith Ann Murphy, General Counsel of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles v. Los Angeles Times (L.A.
Superior Ct. 2002). Successfully opposed Los Angeles Archdiocese midnight attempt to restrain
publication of The Times.
Los Angeles Times v. Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, 88 Cal. App. 4th 1381 (2001).
Won decision establishing that a trial court order denying attorneys fees under CPRA is reviewable by
appeal, in addition to extraordinary writ, and that the CPRA does not require a request for records be in
writing, but does require award of attorneys fees when requester was compelled to file a lawsuit to
disgorge a public record.
American Humane Association v. Los Angeles Times, 92 Cal. App. 4th 1095 (2001). Won order to grant anti-
SLAPP special motion to strike attempt to restrain publication of The Times and an award of fees
notwithstanding voluntary dismissal of a complaint.
Los Angeles Times and Washington Post Company v. FreeRepublic, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5669 (C. D. Cal..
2000). Established Fair Use standards for use of copyrighted material on the internet.
NBC Subsidiary v. Superior Court, 20 Cal. 4th 1178 (1999). Represented The Times in access matter that
resulted in landmark decision finding the public and press have a presumptive First Amendment right
of access to civil trials.
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HONORS
Lawdragon's
500 Leading Global Entertainment,
Sports & Media Lawyers 2025, 2026
American Bar Foundation
Fellow 2013 - present
Jack Bates Award
California Press Association 2013
Freedom of Information Award
California Newspaper Publishers
Association 2011
Special Citation
Los Angeles Times Editorial Awards
Los Angeles Times 2008
Freedom of Information Award
Society of Professional Journalists
Los Angeles 2006
Beacon Award
First Amendment Coalition 2005
Top of the Times Award
Los Angeles Times 1995
Lawdragon's 500 New Stars
New Worlds
Super Lawyers
Super Lawyer, Civil Rights/First
Amendment
FORMER ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
UC Irvine School of Law
Media Law
ASSOCIATIONS
Pfaffinger Foundation
Board of Directors
California Press Foundation
Board of Directors
Police Assessment Resource Center
Board of Directors (fmr.)
Member Seattle Police Monitoring
Team 2016-2020
Jenesse Center, Inc.
Board of Directors (fmr.)
Board Vice President (fmr.)
Public Counsel Law Center
Board of Directors (fmr.)
Chairperson 2006-2007
Executive Committee 1999-2010
California Newspaper Publishers Association
Board of Directors (fmr.)
Chair Gov. Affairs Comm. 2007-2014
Chancery Club of Los Angeles
UC Irvine Literary Journalism Program
Legal Advisory Board
ABA Forum on Communications Law
Governing Board (fmr.)
Western Division Co-Chair (fmr.)
EDUCATION
Suffolk University Law School (JD, 1986)
Georgetown University Law Center
visiting-transfer student (1985-1986)
Middlebury College (AB, 1983)
Departmental honors and
Senior thesis awarded honors
BAR ADMISSIONS
California
District of Columbia
Virginia
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