Alumni Spotlight - Jefferson CIty Office
Welcome Back to Team HB!
Robert Hess
Join us in welcoming Robert Hess back to the firm! Robert recently rejoined Husch Blackwell, after 12 years in house advising the academic medical center and health schools of the University of Missouri.
We talked with him about his career path and return to Husch Blackwell:
Could you share a bit about your time with Husch Blackwell?
I was a summer associate in the Jefferson City office and really enjoyed regulatory practice in a state capital. I joined the office after law school and got to do a little bit of everything administrative law related: regulatory compliance, proposed legislation and rulemakings, investigations, and administrative and appellate litigation. I particularly liked working with healthcare and non-profit clients. My mentors at the firm were generous with their time—always willing to help me understand what we were doing and why and giving me opportunities to take on new responsibilities and grow as an attorney.
What led you to your in-house positions, and how was your experience at Husch Blackwell useful in those roles?
In 2012, the University of Missouri opened a position for a dedicated healthcare attorney to represent its academic medical center and health schools. Previously, the healthcare work had been shared among several attorneys at the university. It was an opportunity to focus on healthcare for the state’s flagship university that dovetailed with my prior work experience and interests. The breadth of my experience at Husch Blackwell gave me a solid foundation to transition into an in-house counsel role for the university, to partner with academic and business leaders to help them achieve their goals, and to adapt and grow as the role expanded over time.
Why did you decide to rejoin the firm?
Coordinating legal services for the academic medical center and health schools of the university was very rewarding. I worked closely with attorneys, leaders, clinicians, and researchers who are dedicated to teaching young people, caring for patients, and improving human lives through research and discovery. After 12 years in the role, I was ready to apply that experience in new ways. I wanted to continue working with academic medical centers and felt like HB’s strong healthcare and higher education practices would provide a great opportunity to do that. I also knew lots of amazing and dedicated attorneys in the firm, both from my previous time here and from working with HB attorneys while in-house at the university. When it all came together, it was a great fit.
Are you noticing any emerging trends in your industry?
It’s a time of tremendous and fast-paced change in all industries, including healthcare and higher education. There are really high levels of baseline uncertainty. It’s important to stay informed and be prepared to respond to change when necessary but not get overwhelmed or distracted. A leadership-endorsed approach to assessing and communicating about changes is valuable. A common approach can help an organization effectively deploy limited resources and reassure stakeholders that the organization is staying abreast of new developments. It can also limit distractions and the loss of focus that may occur if responsibility for change monitoring is diffuse and everyone feels responsible for trying to know everything. Organizations that understand the moment and figure out an approach that will work for them will have a leg up in advancing their initiatives and missions.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?
We have three daughters, and two of them are in high school. We enjoy cheering for them and their friends at school events. Personally, hiking, bike riding, serving with our church, and dining out at local restaurants (Irene’s in Columbia, Missouri is a current favorite) are things that I like to do to have fun and relax.