Rachel M. Hess joined CarneyKelehan, a law firm based in Columbia. With over 40 years of experience, Hess specializes in real estate law and focuses in the fields of condominium, homeowner and community association law as well as land use, corporate, collections, zoning, bankruptcy and contract law. 

Prior to joining CarneyKelehan, Hess was a partner with Winegrad, Hess & Heimlicher in Owings Mills, where she assisted clients in achieving their goals while avoiding unnecessary liability. She advised clients on a wide range of real estate projects, including residential, commercial and mixed-use properties. Hess started her legal career as an associate with a well-established real estate law firm in Baltimore and then founded her own law firm before working with Winegrad, Hess & Heimlicher. 

In addition, Hess has written manuals and delivered lectures on real estate law at the University of Baltimore School of Law, Maryland Building Industry Association and Baltimore County Bar Association. Hess has also been retained as an expert witness for numerous condominium-related cases in Maryland. 

She served as a director of the Land Use Council at the Home Builders Association of Maryland. Hess is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and Community Associations Institute and past member of the National Capital Building Industry Association and Baltimore County Bar Association. 

Hess earned her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Maryland.