Tamera Bennett

PARTNER

Intellectual Property • Trademarks • Music Law • Inherited Copyrights • Mediation •
Content Licensing

Tamera.Bennett@harperbates.com

214.238.8400

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ATTORNEYS

Tamera H. Bennett is a seasoned entertainment lawyer and intellectual property attorney with over 25 years of experience helping content creators, rights holders, businesses, and high-net-worth individuals protect and monetize intellectual property. A trusted advocate for both creators and users of content, Tamera focuses her practice on trademark application prosecution, music and content licensing, and the complex legal and business issues surrounding inherited music copyrights and legacy song and sound recording catalogs. Her work includes navigating royalty streams, evaluating copyright grant termination rights, and structuring licensing deals that preserve the long-term value of creative works.

In January 2025, after 23 years as a respected solo practitioner, Tamera joined Harper & Bates LLP in Dallas as a partner. Clients and colleagues appreciate her deep knowledge, clear communication, and ability to resolve high stakes matters involving song royalties after death, rights of publicity, and the intersection of copyright law and estate planning. Tamera is counsel to Grammy®, CMA®, and ACM® award-winning artists, songwriters, and their music estates, handling transactions that protect legacies and optimize rights management.

Since 2008, she has co-hosted the Entertainment Law Update Podcast, offering insights on legal developments in music, film, publishing, AI, and digital media. Her commentary has appeared in BILLBOARD and TEXAS LAWYER. She is a frequent speaker on copyright licensing, estate planning for artists, and AI’s impact on content creation. In 2023, she completed her fourth term on the Board of Governors for the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy (the Grammys®).

If you’re seeking attorneys to guide you in trademark law, copyright law, music law, or someone who can untangle complicated intellectual property rights issues with care and confidence, connect with Tamera H. Bennett and Harper & Bates LLP.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • 23 Years as the president and owner of Bennett Law Office, PC.
  • Co-host of the Entertainment Law Update Podcast Since 2008.
  • Served four terms – Board of Governors for the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy (The Grammys).
  • Advocate for the music industry, speaking at events and sharing her expertise.
  • Past chair of the State Bar of Texas Entertainment & Sports Law section.
  • Former adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University, Music Business program.

PRESENTATIONS

  • “Is That Fair Use? Trademarks, Creativity, and the Law Post Grimaldi v. Rogers”; Entertainment Law Institute, Austin TX (2025).
  • “Protecting an Artist’s Legacy with Estate and Intellectual Property Succession Planning”; Wealth Counsel, Dallas TX (2024); Entertainment Law Institute, Austin TX (2023) (variations presented in 2018, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2006)
  • “A.I. and Content Creation for Songwriters and Recording Artists”, Fort Worth Music Festival (2024).
  • “Student Athlete NIL Update – NCAA v. Alston; NCAA Guidelines; State Laws; University Regs”, TexasBarCLE Advanced Intellectual Property Law, Virtual (2022).
  • Copyright Lawyer Tamera Bennett Presents at ABA 2021 IP Fall Institute on Content Licensing deals, structures, and rates, Virtual (2021).
  • Tamera Bennett interviewed on “Scarlet Johansson v. Disney – Black Widow Lawsuit” on 1200 News Radio on August 4, 2021.
  • Tamera Bennett interviewed by Mitch Carr with KRLD News Radio on April 27, 2016 regarding the Prince music, copyright and right of publicity estate.

PUBLICATIONS:

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

  • Texas
  • Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

EDUCATION

  • J.D., Magna Cum Laude, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now Texas A&M School of Law), 1998
  • B.S., Cum Laude, Recording Industry Studies, Middle Tennessee State University, 1989
  • Completed – International Trademark Association Advanced Mediation Course, May 2013
  • Completed – Texas 40 Hour Basic Mediation Course, May 2007

Representative Engagements

  • Representation of the musical estate of a recording artist that received multiple Grammy®, CMA®, ACM® awards, CMA® Entertainer of the Year, and the Recording Academy® Lifetime Achievement Award.
  • Representation of a musical estate of a recording artist and songwriter with multiple singles certified RIAA® Gold and RIAA® Double Platinum.
  • Representation of the musical estate of a songwriter and record producer earning multiple #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, multiple top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot R&B Chart, as well as multiple BMI Million-Air certificates.
  • Representation of a Grammy® winning composer/producer/artist earning multiple #1 Billboard charting recordings.
  • Representation of cable networks for brand management, trademark and copyright protection, public performance licenses, and content licensing.
  • Representation of a video game developer in licensing new and pre-existing musical compositions and sound recordings for incorporation in games in linear and non-linear fashion.
  • Representation of established businesses in content licensing, co-branding agreements, and trademark applications and protection.
  • Representation of individuals with an established right of publicity (name, image, and likeness) in licensing, branding, and protection of their brand.