Meyers Nave brought on Ron Avenida as chief operating officer of the firm. Avenida will oversee the administrative aspects and legal service operations in California.

Womble Bond Dickinson promoted Artin Betpera to partner in the Costa Mesa office. Betpera represents financial services companies in federal and state courts.

Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger promoted six attorneys in January. Ashley Halberda, Nancy Lubrano, Carolina Schwalbach, and Joel Van Parys were promoted to partner. Leah Cameron and Corey Cabral were promoted to senior counsel. Halberda and Lubrano are based in Orange County, Van Parys and Cabral are based in Sacramento, Schwalbach is based in Los Angeles, and Cameron is based in San Francisco.

Hanson Bridgett brought on Noel Cook as partner in its intellectual property practice. Cook specializes in trademark and copyright enforcement, litigation, counseling, prosecution and licensing. He is based in the San Francisco office. Previously, he was an owner of Owen, Wickersham & Erickson.

Rimon Law brought on David Devernoe as partner. Devernoe advises companies of all sizes, and has worked as senior patent counsel for Hologic. Previously, he was partner at Troutman Sanders. He is based in the San Diego office.

J.H. Jennifer Lee joined Arent Fox in San Francisco. Lee's clients include financial services firms and banks. Previously, she was a partner at Dorsey & Whitney.

BakerHostetler brought on Daniel Lula as partner. Lula's practice focuses on commercial and employment litigation. Previously, Lula was at Payne & Fears. He is based in Costa Mesa.

Tucker Ellis named Monica Monroe as partner-in-charge of the San Francisco office. Her practice focuses on complex civil litigation, product liability, mass tort, and business matters.

Judge David Riemenschneider will retire from the Mendocino County Superior Court in March. Governor Jerry Brown appointed him in May 2012, where he served in the family court before becoming the presiding judge of the juvenile court. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was a solo practitioner.

Kathleen Ryan joined Morrison & Foerster's financial services group as of counsel. Ryan previously was deputy assistant director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She is based in Los Angeles.

Shute Mihaly & Weinberger promoted two associates to partners. Sara Clark's practice focuses on representing non-profit organizations, public agencies and Indian tribes. Sarah Sigman's practice focuses on public agencies, land trusts, community groups on land use, environmental and real estate matters. Both attorneys are based in San Francisco.

Lisa Spiegel was appointed chair of Duane Morris's immigration division in the firm's employment, labor benefits and immigration practice group. Spiegel specializes in immigration and nationality law. She succeeds Denyse Sabagh, who will continue as partner in the immigration practice. She is based in San Francisco.

Fisher Phillips hired Drew Tate as an associate. Tate specializes in representing employers in employment litigation matters and assisting clients with class action matters and trade secret litigation. Previously, he was at Porter Scott. He is based in Sacramento.