24 | DELAWAREBEACHES.COM COASTAL DELAWARE | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2015

BUSINESSIn August, Bloomberg’s

Business Week asked, “AreLawyers Getting Dumber?”The article cited falling bar pas-sage rates as evidence of an in-creasingly incompetent attor-ney population in the U.S.

Then, in September, one localattorney responded in true localform.

Ben Gichner grew up inOcean View, the son of Michaeland Joanne Gichner. He went toIndian River High School, grad-uated from the University ofNorth Carolina at Wilmington,and received his JD from PennState’s Dickinson School of Law.

Now, the local attorney haspassed the bar exam in bothDelaware and Washingtonstates despite the falling pas-sage rates across the country.The Delaware Bar Exam con-sists of two-and-a-half days ofmultiple-choice questions andessays. Washington’s bar examis two days of questions and es-says.

Gichner has passed both ex-ams and recently co-foundedBenchmark Legal, a small firmin Seattle with big firm ideas.But he’s staying true to hishometown roots.

“I’ve always had the urge tobuild upon this idea, to start myown firm, and I couldn’t wait,”he said. “Seattle has a thrivingtech industry, and I want to be apart of it by helping entrepre-neurs bring their inventionsand intellectual property to themarket. My business partnerand close friend from lawschool lives in Seattle, and weboth shared this idea of creatinga true, dual-coast law firm.”

Gichner and his co-founderat Benchmark Legal, PLLC,Joshua Bam, help entrepre-neurs and small businesses withcompany formations, idea pro-tection, and much more.

“Ben helps me understandwhat’s going on and plan

through it. I think 714 Décorwould be a very different thingwithout Ben’s help,” said SeanCummings of 714 Décor, LLC.

Cummings’ business, 714 Dé-cor, designs and manufacturesunique furniture and pieces ofart. His business is currently onFacebook and he has an onlinestore front coming soon. Cum-mings was working with Gichn-er even before he set up prac-tice in Seattle.

“It’s just like working with

Ben in person, but now he’s con-nected me with a Patent Agentin Oregon who’s been reallygreat,” Cummings said. “Ihaven’t really given muchthought to the long-distancething actually. It’s just not an is-sue.”

Gichner says he wants asmall firm with personal clientattention that provides big firmservices. He says clients shouldbe able to promote their ideason a grand scale with a reason-

able budget.“I like to tell clients that it’s

always about the passion you in-vest in your idea; it’s my job tostand with you to help you suc-ceed,” he said. “So starting thisfirm seemed like an easychoice. We’re invested in ourclients and their lives. We’repassionate about helping peoplesucceed. That’s what growingup in Sussex County has taughtme.”

Gichner grew up lifeguard-ing on the Fenwick IslandBeach Patrol, running throughthe light of early mornings anddiving head first into cold wa-ter.

“It’s more a lifestyle, a phi-losophy I guess,” he said. “I’msomeone who likes to jump inand get started. Our clients likethat about us too.”

Gichner and Cummings’sfamilies have been friends foryears. Cummings is also fromSussex County and is the son ofMike Cummings, owner of Mi-ken Builders Inc., in Millville.For the Cummings, entrepre-neurship runs in the family. Hisolder brother also runs his ownbusiness.

“It’s great having a friend Itrust who can take care of the le-gal side of everything,” Cum-mings said. “He’s made things alot easier.”

So far, Gichner’s path to his

own practice hasn’t been veryconventional. He attended theoldest law school in Pennsylva-nia, the fifth oldest law school inthe nation, moved across thecountry to start a business, andBloomberg’s article about barpassage rates doesn’t seem toapply to him.

“I guess the article makessense if you look at bar passagerates.” Gichner said. “We al-ways recommend our clientschoose their counsel carefully.Obviously, having an attorneylicensed in a few states isn’t abad idea.”

Delaware’s bar exam is argu-ably one of the hardest in thecountry, and after passing oneexam, most attorneys wouldn’tnecessarily be thrilled to driveacross the country and do it allover.

“I don’t mind it. I chose to doit so I could offer somethingmost attorneys cannot.” Gichn-er said. “I want local clientswith cross-national opportuni-ties. I’d like to give my clientsaccess to people and marketsthey otherwise wouldn’t have.Now we can offer that.”

Benchmark Legal opened of-ficially in August of this year. Sofar the firm is in the black,though Ben wouldn’t say muchmore than that.

714 Décor has been open for ayear or so. They’re selling furni-ture and custom home décor lo-cally and looking to expand intoa bigger space. Sean and Benhave ideas for woodworkingclasses, space rentals forgroups, and other activities thatbring entrepreneurs and com-munities together.

“It’s important,” Gichnersaid. “Invest in others. Even ifthey don’t invest in you back, it’sone of those ways to a good life.”

In Seattle, Gichner and Bamwill host events that bring com-munities together. The SeattlePublic Library is one of the

Local lawyer walks into the bar, twiceSUBMITTED ARTICLE

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Ben Gichner

See LAWYER, Page 25

“Seattle has a thriving

tech industry, and I

want to be a part of it

by helping

entrepreneurs bring

their inventions and

intellectual property

to the market.”

BEN GICHNER

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2015 | COASTAL DELAWARE DELAWAREBEACHES.COM | 25

The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamberof Commerce recently announced The DoughRoller – now open on Rehoboth Avenue — is a$1,000 “Frankendude” Sponsor of the Chamber’s26th Annual Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddler’sFestival.

The Chamber, as a nonprofit organization, hasreached out to its membership for additionalsponsorship of Chamber events including the SeaWitch Halloween & Fiddlers’ Festival. Thegrowth of the Sea Witch Festival has requirednew safety, security, and transportation needs,pushing the event budget to over $100,000. Thefestival’s mission is not to create profit for theChamber, but to produce an economic impact forthe business community by bringing visitation tothe resort area. Many non-profit and communityorganizations such as the Sussex Family YMCA,Rehoboth Beach Museum, Rehoboth Art League,Cape Henlopen High School Band, Mariner Mid-dle School, and many more benefit from theevent.

It is the generosity of members like The DoughRoller that enables the Chamber to continue toproduce quality activities that draw visitors to

the area each year. The Chamber greatly appreci-ates their continued support.

For more information, call 302-227-6446 or vis-it www.beach-fun.com.

Dough Roller becomes‘Frankendude’ sponsorSUBMITTED ARTICLE

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From left are Bill Gibbs and Carol Everhart, Chamberpresident and CEO.

strangest places in the city, all10 floors of which are open tothe public. At the end of thisyear, they will be holding openmics to give start-ups and en-trepreneurs free access to apanel of experts who will offerthem tips and advice aboutstarting and growing theirown businesses.

Cummings says he’ll keepworking with Gichner andplans to hold a patented prod-uct in the next few years. Cum-mings’s business is growing ina few ways too, but he prefersworking on (and talking moreabout) his designs and cre-ations than dealing with thedetails.

“I’d rather be working withmy hands than reading con-tracts and mailing state fil-ings,” Cummings said. “I’mgetting to do that now, and I’mgoing to keep doing that. Itmakes life easier and havingmore time to make more letsme sell more. That’s a goodthing.”

Working remotely hasn’tmade things difficult, either.Cummings certainly isn’ttraveling thousands of milesfor legal meetings with thefirm.

“I’m probably not going toSeattle anytime soon. Bencomes back to Delaware everyso often,” he said. “It’s not likehe’s just not around either. Wetalk weekly on the phone andby e-mail. I trust him and canask him anything. I’m not wor-ried about it.”

Gichner is enjoying life inSeattle. He represents Dela-ware and Washington Clientsand travels back to Bethanyevery few months to visit withfamily, friends, and to meetwith clients in person.

“I don’t know what the fu-ture will bring, but if we get tostand with people like Seanand help businesses like 714(Decor), then I know whatcomes next will be extraordi-nary,” Gichner said. “It’s areally exciting time to be anentrepreneur.”

You can find out more aboutGichner, his firm, and congrat-ulate him on passing his sec-ond bar exam at www.benchmark.legal.

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