Her employment litigation experience includes the representation of employers before U.S. state and federal courts and administrative agencies, defending against claims of race, sex, disability and age discrimination; sexual harassment; whistleblower retaliation; restrictive-covenant disputes; wrongful termination; and wage and hour violations. She regularly counsels clients in all of these areas, drafts and negotiates employment and severance agreements, conducts on-site workplace investigations, presents training seminars and speaks to employer groups on avoiding workplace problems. Ms. Bess also has experience advising clients regarding their public accommodation obligations under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and representing clients in litigation involving related claims.

Ms. Bess has extensive first-chair bench trial, jury trial and arbitration experience. She also is experienced in the defense of complex class action litigation, including wage and hour collective actions and pattern or practice litigation brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In 2024, The Legal 500 United States recommended Ms. Bess in the Labor and Employment: Workplace and Employment Counseling category. The Legal 500 United States guide recommended Ms. Bess in the Labor and Employment—Labor and Employment Litigation category in 2014. Since 2018 the Legal 500 United States guide recommended her in the Labor and Employment Disputes (including collective actions): Defense and Labor and in 2021 was editorially recommended in the Employment Labor-Management Relations category. Ms. Bess also has been listed in Washingtonian Magazine’s “Best Lawyers” edition (December 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2022) in the category “Employment Defense.” She has been selected for inclusion since 2012 in Washington DC Super Lawyers in the category “Employment Litigation Defense.” In 2013, Ms. Bess also was listed in Expert Guides to World’s Leading Lawyers—Labour and Employment. Ms. Bess was selected by The Best Lawyers in America® in the categories of “Employment Law – Management” and “Litigation – Labor and Employment” since 2023.

Ms. Bess is actively involved in a number of non-profit and charitable organizations. She is a board member and serves as general counsel for Everybody Wins!, a charity in the district focusing on promoting children's' literacy. She is also a member of the board of the District of Columbia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In 2019 she was awarded the Tom Nees Award for Exceptional Service by Community of Hope, a non-profit organization pursuing a mission to aid low-income families experiencing homelessness and struggling with healthcare needs, in recognition of her long-standing, deeply-impactful service to the women, men and children who turn to Community of Hope for help. Most recently, she has been appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure.