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Donna O. Tillis

Donna O. Tillis

Partner

Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
T 803.255.9327
donna.tillis@nelsonmullins.com
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With nearly a decade of strategic litigation experience, Donna Ojetta Tillis has been recognized as a “Rising Star” among trial lawyers. She is a trusted advisor to leading companies in the Southeast and beyond on a range of litigation matters, with a primary emphasis on consumer class action defense. Donna also has significant experience representing...

With nearly a decade of strategic litigation experience, Donna Ojetta Tillis has been recognized as a “Rising Star” among trial lawyers. She is a trusted advisor to leading companies in the Southeast and beyond on a range of litigation matters, with a primary emphasis on consumer class action defense. Donna also has significant experience representing insurers in life insurance, disability, and bad faith disputes. In addition, she is called on to help companies navigate internal and government investigations. An in-demand speaker on both cutting-edge litigation topics and issues impacting minority attorneys, Donna is considered by audiences to be dynamic, thoughtful, and engaging.

Donna O. Tillis

insurers in life insurance, disability, and bad faith disputes. In addition, she is called on to help companies navigate internal and government investigations. An in-demand speaker on both cutting-edge litigation topics and issues impacting minority attorneys, Donna is considered by audiences to be dynamic, thoughtful, and engaging.

Experience

Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • The defense of consumer class actions in state and federal courts in a number of industries
  • Defended public power authority in multibillion-dollar consumer class actions arising from cancellation of nuclear power project
  • Defended developers and manufacturers in construction defect and timeshare class action litigation
  • Represented public entity in investigations by the SEC and DOJ
  • Conducted internal investigation for public company regarding opioid sales
  • Litigation and client projects addressing life, health, disability, and ERISA insurance issues, including the following: 
    • Represented life, health, and disability insurance companies in litigation and regulatory matters
    • Defended bad faith claims, asserted rescission claims based on material misrepresentations, brought declaratory judgment actions based on lack of insurable interest
    • Initiated interpleader actions in state and federal court nationwide
    • Provided advice with respect to claims investigations and decisions to pay claims
  • Litigation and client projects addressing a variety of financial service issues, including the following:
    • Telephone Consumer Protection Act
    • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
    • Fair Credit Reporting Act
    • Uniform Commercial Code
    • South Carolina Consumer Protection Code

Previous Professional Experience

  • Judicial Clerk, the Honorable Clifton Newman, South Carolina Circuit Court
  • Communication Consultant, The Constitution Project, Washington, D.C.
  • Communications Intern, South Carolina Educational Television

Educational Activities

  • University of South Carolina School of Law
    • Board Member, Pro Bono Program
    • Educational Law Research Assistant for Professor Derek Black
    • Member, Black Law Student Association
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • The defense of consumer class actions in state and federal courts in a number of industries
  • Defended public power authority in multibillion-dollar consumer class actions arising from cancellation of nuclear power project
  • Defended developers and manufacturers in construction defect and timeshare class action litigation
  • Represented public entity in investigations by the SEC and DOJ
  • Conducted internal investigation for public company regarding opioid sales
  • Litigation and client projects addressing life, health, disability, and ERISA insurance issues, including the following: 
    • Represented life, health, and disability insurance companies in litigation and regulatory matters
    • Defended bad faith claims, asserted rescission claims based on material misrepresentations, brought declaratory judgment actions based on lack of insurable interest
    • Initiated interpleader actions in state and federal court nationwide
    • Provided advice with respect to claims investigations and decisions to pay claims
  • Litigation and client projects addressing a variety of financial service issues, including the following:
    • Telephone Consumer Protection Act
    • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
    • Fair Credit Reporting Act
    • Uniform Commercial Code
    • South Carolina Consumer Protection Code

Previous Professional Experience

  • Judicial Clerk, the Honorable Clifton Newman, South Carolina Circuit Court
  • Communication Consultant, The Constitution Project, Washington, D.C.
  • Communications Intern, South Carolina Educational Television

Educational Activities

  • University of South Carolina School of Law
    • Board Member, Pro Bono Program
    • Educational Law Research Assistant for Professor Derek Black
    • Member, Black Law Student Association

Media

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Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

Professional Activities

  • Defense Research Institute
    • Life, Health, and Disability Committee, Chair of Young Lawyers Subcommittee (2018–present), Chair of Membership Subcommittee (2021–present)
  • Richland County Bar Public Service Committee (2019–present)
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Pathfinder (2019)
  • Member, American Bar Association
    • Business Law Section, Consumer Financial Services Committee, Young Lawyer Liaison (2016–2020)
  • Member, South Carolina Women Lawyers’ Association

Community

  • Richland County Court Appointed Special Advocates, Board Member (2021–present), Governance and Compliance Chair (2021–present)
  • Upsilon Chi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Collegiate Advisor at Columbia (S.C.) College (2020–present)

With nearly a decade of strategic litigation experience, Donna Ojetta Tillis has been recognized as a “Rising Star” among trial lawyers. She is a trusted advisor to leading companies in the Southeast and beyond on a range of litigation matters, with a primary emphasis on consumer class action defense. Donna also has significant experience representing... insurers in life insurance, disability, and bad faith disputes. In addition, she is called on to help companies navigate internal and government investigations. An in-demand speaker on both cutting-edge litigation topics and issues impacting minority attorneys, Donna is considered by audiences to be dynamic, thoughtful, and engaging.

Experience

Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • The defense of consumer class actions in state and federal courts in a number of industries
  • Defended public power authority in multibillion-dollar consumer class actions arising from cancellation of nuclear power project
  • Defended developers and manufacturers in construction defect and timeshare class action litigation
  • Represented public entity in investigations by the SEC and DOJ
  • Conducted internal investigation for public company regarding opioid sales
  • Litigation and client projects addressing life, health, disability, and ERISA insurance issues, including the following: 
    • Represented life, health, and disability insurance companies in litigation and regulatory matters
    • Defended bad faith claims, asserted rescission claims based on material misrepresentations, brought declaratory judgment actions based on lack of insurable interest
    • Initiated interpleader actions in state and federal court nationwide
    • Provided advice with respect to claims investigations and decisions to pay claims
  • Litigation and client projects addressing a variety of financial service issues, including the following:
    • Telephone Consumer Protection Act
    • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
    • Fair Credit Reporting Act
    • Uniform Commercial Code
    • South Carolina Consumer Protection Code

Previous Professional Experience

  • Judicial Clerk, the Honorable Clifton Newman, South Carolina Circuit Court
  • Communication Consultant, The Constitution Project, Washington, D.C.
  • Communications Intern, South Carolina Educational Television

Educational Activities

  • University of South Carolina School of Law
    • Board Member, Pro Bono Program
    • Educational Law Research Assistant for Professor Derek Black
    • Member, Black Law Student Association

Education

  • University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (2014)
    • Editor in Chief, ABA Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Journal
    • Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholar, Minority Corporate Counsel Association
  • Columbia College, BA, Communications, Honors Program, summa cum laude (2011)

Admissions

  • South Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina

Practice Areas

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Defense Research Institute
    • Life, Health, and Disability Committee, Chair of Young Lawyers Subcommittee (2018–present), Chair of Membership Subcommittee (2021–present)
  • Richland County Bar Public Service Committee (2019–present)
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Pathfinder (2019)
  • Member, American Bar Association
    • Business Law Section, Consumer Financial Services Committee, Young Lawyer Liaison (2016–2020)
  • Member, South Carolina Women Lawyers’ Association
  • Richland County Court Appointed Special Advocates, Board Member (2021–present), Governance and Compliance Chair (2021–present)
  • Upsilon Chi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Collegiate Advisor at Columbia (S.C.) College (2020–present)
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