Pele Houk Godkin joined Cornelius & Collins, LLP as an associate in 2008. The focus of her practice is civil litigation, dispute avoidance and alternative dispute resolution, with an emphasis on workers' compensation law. Pele represents plaintiffs and defendants, and is admitted to practice law in all state courts. She is also certified by the Tennessee Supreme Court as a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator. Since joining Cornelius & Collins, LLP, Pele has represented clients in courts across the state of Tennessee, including the Tennessee Supreme Court Special Workers' Compensation Panel, and also before the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

Prior to joining the firm Pele worked in private practice as a civil litigator. She also worked for the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development as a supervising attorney and workers' compensation specialist. While working for the Department of Labor, Pele was responsible for oversight and legal analysis of workers' compensation claims in Perry, Hickman, Lewis, Rutherford, Cannon, Warren, Coffee, Franklin, and Moore counties. This included determinations of compensability and orders/denials of benefits associated with claims.

Pele received her law degree from Seattle University School of Law. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Public Administration.

Bar Admissions:

Tennessee Supreme Court
U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee

Professional Associations & Memberships:

Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator
Nashville Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
American Bar Association

Past Employment Positions:

Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce
  Development, Supervising Attorney & Workers’
  Compensation Specialist, 2004 – 2007

Civic & Community Activities:

Nashville Bar Association, Pro Bono Program