A graduate of the University of South Carolina who long has called Columbia home, Yani Mouratev focuses his practice at Callison Tighe on general litigation.
Prior to joining Callison Tighe, Yani served as assistant solicitor in the First Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The office is responsible for prosecuting all Circuit Court cases and juvenile criminal cases in the counties of Orangeburg, Calhoun and Dorchester. Yani represented the State in numerous court proceedings and assisted in drafting and bringing forth legal motions, responding to appeals, and negotiating plea agreements.
While attending the University of South Carolina School of Law, Yani interned with the Hon. Robert E. Hood of the 5th Judicial Circuit in Columbia, sitting in on an array of criminal and civil proceedings. He assisted Judge Hood in conducting legal research to form the basis of rulings. He also clerked for two Columbia law firms, including Callison Tighe. In those positions, Yani took part in numerous complex civil litigation matters including qui tam suits, deliberate indifference claims, zoning board appeals, wrongful death actions, false arrests and personal and catastrophic injury suits, among others.
Yani also worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Office of Community Planning and Development Disaster Relief Team during law school. The team partners with state and local agencies to play a vital role in disaster recovery. Yani regularly coordinated with officials in Washington and with state and local government executives to ensure proper disaster plans were in place. He was responsible for reviewing all state, county, and local grantees’ action plans as well as the corresponding financial risk documentation to ensure compliance with federal laws and regulations. Yani’s findings and determinations were directly relied upon by the Director of HUD to disperse or withhold roughly $213 million dollars.
Yani received his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of South Carolina, earning Dean’s List and President’s List honors. While pursuing his degree, he worked in the insurance industry as an assistant underwriter who supervised and managed a coastal homeowners program. Yani was also hired to conduct research for a company specializing in international medical tourism, offering coverage for those traveling out of the country to receive medical care.
Before he started law school, Yani worked for the South Carolina 5th Circuit Public Defender’s Office, where he regularly attended client meetings, plea hearings, trials, and assisted attorneys in pre-trial preparations.
