Prior to assuming the position as partner with Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms, Hess had in-house legal positions with two companies, and, prior to the corporate legal experiences, he was an attorney with a law firm where his practice focused upon transactional matters involving licensing and representing clients before federal, state and local agencies; drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the USPTO and foreign patent offices; intellectual property litigation, technical and other intellectual property transactional work; and merger and acquisition due diligence. His accreditations include licenses to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and before the USPTO. Additionally, Hess is a registered Professional Engineer and a Certified Financial Planner™.