Background
Randy M. Hess is a shareholder of the law firm of Hess • Bower • Adams-Hess, PC, where his practice focuses on representation of policyholders in insurance coverage and bad faith disputes. Mr. Hess represents policyholders from individuals to Fortune 100 companies, governmental entities, and non-profits in insurance coverage matters.
Mr. Hess has successfully represented insureds before the California Supreme Court, California Courts of Appeal, California Superior Courts, Federal District Courts, and the Ninth Circuit. He received his J.D. degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law in 1979. Mr. Hess has written articles on insurance coverage for numerous publications including California Lawyer Magazine and the California Association of Consumer Attorneys Forum. He is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in California and before the United States Supreme Court.
Mr. Hess teaches insurance law as an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University School of Law. He is a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association Insurance Committee, having previously served as chairperson for many years. He is a contributing author to “California Automobile Insurance Law Guide” (CEB, 2005 to present) and “How Insurance Companies Settle Cases” (James & Co., 1998), and has lectured for the California Continuing Education of the Bar on coverage issues. He has lectured on new developments in insurance issues, and has provided continuing education to defense counsel, employment and technology law firms, lenders, mortgage brokers, technology companies, corporate counsel, insurance agents and brokers, trial attorney associations and law firms, including a presentation in Mumbai, India, on insurance law to Indian companies doing business in the United States. He has written articles for and has been featured in the Daily Journal and Recorder legal newspapers.
Mr. Hess is one of the few attorneys repeatedly listed in “Best Lawyers in America” in insurance coverage. He has consistently been rated AV® Preeminent™ (the highest available rating for legal ability and ethics, as recognized by Martindale-Hubbell, Inc.). Mr. Hess has been continuously selected since 2004 as one of Northern California’s Super Lawyers® in Insurance Coverage. He has also been named as a “Best Lawyers in America” in Insurance Law and has been named by Best Lawyers in America as “Lawyer of the Year” in Insurance in San Jose, California. He is a fellow in the American College of Best Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel. Mr. Hess has been retained as an expert by insurers, law firms, and policyholders on coverage issues and professional liability matters.
Bar Admissions
State of California
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, District of Nevada
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington (Seattle)
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
Education
J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law, 1979
B.S., Arizona State University, 1976
Awards & Recognition
Selected to SuperLawyers®, Insurance Coverage, 2004 – 2023
Professional Associations
Member, California State Bar
Member, Santa Clara County Bar Association
Past Trustee, Santa Clara County Bar Association
Past Member, Santa Clara County Bar Association Nominating Committee
Chairperson (1997, 2003, 2006) and Board Member, Santa Clara County Bar Association Insurance Law Executive Committee (1997 to Present)
Member, West Valley Bar Association
Member, California Consumer Attorneys
Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers of Northern California
Member, American Association for Justice
Member, American Association for Justice Insurance Committee
Member, Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association
Member, San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association
Member, Santa Clara County Plaintiffs’ Insurance Litigation Group
Member, Santa Clara County Bar Association Insurance Torts, Real Estate & Business Litigation Sections
Past Arbitrator, Santa Clara County Superior Court, Judicial Arbitration Section
Past Member, Santa Clara County Bar Association Fee Arbitrators