USD Law Advocate, Spring 2026

Alexis Hughes, Isabella Cantwell, Mikayla Seiler, Leah Schumacher and Joe Doucette at the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (VICAM) program in Vienna.

Transactional Law Team members Abigail Healey and Karla Lora at William & Mary’s 2025 Colonial Cup.

Emily Gaines, Brooke Tooma and Professor Kathryn Hoyt at the ABA Business Law Section’s MAC Cup III.

The Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (VICAM) pro gram competes worldwide in international commercial law and arbitration, building members’ research, brief-writing and oral advocacy skills. In Vienna, Austria, Joe Doucette ’25 (JD) paired with Leah Schumacher (3L), while Alexis Hughes (3L) and Isabella Cantwell (3L) competed together under student-coach Mikayla Seiler ’25 (JD). Both groups finished in the top 30% of more than 390 teams, with Schumacher earning the Martin Domke Award as a top 5% oralist. At Vis East Moot in Hong Kong, student-coach MaryBeth Ammari ’25 (JD) helped teammates Nicole Parks (4P) and Caroline Sharp (3L), along with the duo of Savannah Munoz (3L) and Danielle Nead-Work (3L), to the round of 16 from a 154-team field, which was VICAM’s first elimination-round appearance since 2017. USD Law was one of only two U.S. law schools to reach that stage. The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Team (formerly the Client Advocacy Team) develops client-counseling, negotiation and mediation skills while sustaining USD’s reputation for client centered advocacy. Building on a regional title, Emily Gaines (3L) and Brooke Tooma (3L), with head coach Adjunct Professor of Law Kathryn Hoyt ’14 (JD), attorney coach Noel Gillespie ’02 (JD) and student-coach Reem Dabbous ’25 (JD), finished in the top six at the ABA Law Student Division Negotiation Competition Nationals in Chicago. The USD Moot Court Program continued its tradition of suc cess in not only sending teams to National Competitions but hosting them as well under the leadership of Chair Lexi McCrillis (3L). USD hosted the Alumni Torts Moot Court Competition, where students wrote briefs and then competed in appellate arguments. The final round featured San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Pulos, United States Magistrate Judge Valerie

Torres, and retired San Diego Superior Court Judge Kenneth Medel ’79 (JD). In November, USD hosted 30 schools from across the country at the National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition featuring Ninth Circuit Judge John Owens, San Diego Superior Court Judge Victor Torres ’84 (JD) and Magistrate Judge Michelle Pettit as the final round judges. These results reflect hundreds of hours from students, fac ulty coaches and volunteer attorneys who dedicate themselves to seeing their teams succeed. Months of research and practice ensure everyone represents USD Law with pride. Thanks to donors’ generous support, these competitions become a reality. Because of these investments, USD Law students turn classroom knowl edge into practice: drafting, negotiating and advocating at a high level long before graduation while making memories that will last a lifetime.

Nicole Parks, Caroline Sharp, Danielle Nead-Work, MaryBeth Ammari, Savannah Munoz and Coach Kayla Sideco ’25 (JD) at Vis East Moot in Hong Kong.

USD SCHOOL OF LAW

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