Construction Expert | Cost & Claims Analysis

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Robert Hession is a construction expert witness with more than 30 years of experience in commercial construction, capital project delivery, and construction risk advisory. His background combines executive leadership with hands-on project execution, providing a practical, real-world perspective in dispute matters. Mr. Hession is the Principal of RFH Partners, a construction advisory and expert consulting firm focused on construction claims analysis, cost-to-complete evaluation, contractor billing and payment application review, change order exposure, and construction management standard of care. His work involves detailed analysis of project documentation, including contracts, schedules, payment applications, change orders, and cost records, to assess financial exposure and project performance. Prior to founding RFH Partners, Mr. Hession served as Executive Vice President at J.A. Jennings, where he was responsible for leading complex commercial and institutional construction projects and advising ownership groups on cost, schedule, and execution risk. His experience includes healthcare, corporate interiors, institutional facilities, and high-end residential construction, with extensive work throughout New York City and the Northeast. Mr. Hession has significant experience evaluating contractor performance, identifying project execution failures, and assessing damages related to cost overruns, delays, and disputed work. He is frequently engaged to analyze contractor billing practices, change order validity, cost-to-complete exposure, and schedule impacts, and to provide clear, supportable opinions for use in mediation, arbitration, and litigation. His approach is grounded in practical construction management experience rather than theoretical analysis. This allows him to translate complex construction issues into clear, actionable insight for counsel, helping to quickly assess case viability, exposure, and strategy. Mr. Hession provides both early-stage case evaluation through a “Litigation Quick Opinion” and full expert witness services, including document review, report preparation, deposition, and testimony. He is available for initial case consultation, expert witness engagements, and independent construction risk assessments.