Kevin Hess

Kevin Hess is a Principal in the Austin office of McKool Smith, focusing his practice on high-stakes patent infringement and technology cases, particularly those involving standard essential patents (SEPs) subject to FRAND or RAND obligations. His technical background as an engineer in the semiconductor industry informs his work across various sectors, including wireless telecommunications, consumer electronics, semiconductors, cable television, and energy.

Hess primarily represents patentees in litigation, with all tracked appearances indicating plaintiff-side roles. His experience includes significant trial victories for clients in federal district courts and the U.S. International Trade Commission, and he has also successfully represented clients before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Notable cases include representing plaintiffs in Optis Wireless Technology et al. v. Huawei, where a jury found infringement and awarded damages before the case settled, and contributing to a substantial jury award for ParkerVision against Qualcomm in a wireless receiver technology dispute. He also represented Ericsson in reaching a confidential global patent licensing settlement with Lenovo. The provided case list also notes his lead counsel role for the plaintiff in Nokia v. HP, Inc. et al.

In addition to district court litigation, Hess possesses significant experience with inter partes review (IPR) proceedings, having successfully represented clients before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His firm highlights a specific PTAB trial win for Parallel Networks.

Hess is admitted to practice in the State of Texas and before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas. He earned his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 2013 and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis in 2008.