Law Briefs

Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps LLP has hired marketing veteran Ramona Cyr as director of Business Development and Marketing.

Cyr, who will work out of Luce Forward's downtown San Diego office, will manage the firm's new business development and marketing statewide, including its Los Angeles and San Francisco offices.

She also will work with Luce Forward leaders to manage a variety of initiatives supporting the firm's strategic plan and growth.

"Ramona has a long record of identifying new business opportunities, creating successful marketing campaigns and showing true leadership," Luce Forward Managing Partner Robert J. Bell said. "I know that she will be an excellent addition to our team."

In 2003, Cyr was a recipient of a prestigious YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) Award, which recognizes successful women executives for their outstanding achievements.

Melissa W. Woo of the San Diego office of Best Best & Krieger has been named a partner of the firm.

Woo practices in the area of civil litigation in state, federal and appellate matters. Her clients include both public and private entities.

The 1997 graduate of Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, joined BB&K in 2000. She is one of the firm's five new partners.

The San Diego office of Foley & Lardner has hired Michael Hay as an associate in its intellectual property practice group.

Hay's practice focuses on drafting and prosecuting patents in the chemical and mechanical fields with a secondary focus on due diligence and opinion work. He will primarily serve companies in the biotech and chemical sector.

Prior to joining, Hay practiced intellectual property at Lundeen & Dickinson LLP, a boutique firm in Houston.

He worked as a polymer chemist and research scientist before beginning his legal career.

California Western School of Law captured the Southwest Regional title of the Jessup International Law Moot Court competition last month, beating Loyola Law School in the final.

The team, consisting of five second- and third-year California Western students, now will join more than 90 teams from law schools around the world in the Jessup International Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C.

"We are extremely proud of our team's regional win," said California Western professor William Aceves, who coaches the team along with professor Roberta Thyfault. "Given their hard work throughout the competition, it is an honor that they richly deserve.

"Our students faced some tough competition, particularly in the final rounds, which makes their accomplishments even more rewarding."

The San Diego school also won the first-place prize for Best Memorial (brief) of the Southwest Region, and second-year student Micah Bailey took home a fourth-place trophy for Best Oralist in the competition. Ricardo Arias, Terri Bianchi, Kelly Ranasinghe and Melissa Robbins round out the California Western quintet.