Our Philosophy
Grounded in the belief that strong standards matter and that the law can be both a mechanism for accountability and a foundation for better business
The law does more than resolve disputes. At its best, it establishes the standards that shape how institutions behave, how markets function, and how accountability is maintained.
Benchline was founded on the belief that those standards matter—and that legal counsel should help strengthen them. Through litigation and strategic advisory work, we help define, defend, and enforce the boundaries that support responsible corporate conduct.
The Idea Behind
Benchline
Bench
Evokes the courts, the rule of law, and our willingness to act when corporate conduct causes harm to people, communities, or the environment.
Line
Speaks to the standards, boundaries, and obligations that define responsible corporate behavior — and to the action that follows when those boundaries are crossed.
FOUNDER’S MESSAGE
Hi, I'm Jackie.
With nearly two decades in the corporate world, spanning industries from energy to consumer goods, I have seen how corporate giants can harm both people and the planet when left unchecked. When profits are put ahead of health, safety, transparency, and responsibility, the results can be catastrophic.
As a lawyer who has been “on the other side,” I bring legal, technical, scientific, and business judgment to the right side of the equation. That means helping responsible companies understand their obligations, strengthen compliance, and operate on the right side of the line — while also seeking justice when corporate conduct harms people, communities, or the environment.
I believe the fight for a healthier, more sustainable future is one of the most pressing legal challenges of our time. I started this firm to help advance that fight: by supporting companies that want to do better, holding bad actors accountable when they do not, and ensuring that every voice is heard, every community is protected, and every policy reflects the urgency of the health and environmental challenges we face.
OUR TEAM
Jacqueline E. Biner
Founder and Managing Partner
Jackie founded Benchline to hold corporations accountable for their impact on the environment and human health and to help those that want to operate responsibly stay on the right side of the line. Her unique background combines extensive corporate experience with a deep understanding of science and business, making her a formidable advocate and advisor in these areas.
Sean Powers
Senior Counsel
Sean has litigated cutting-edge corporate accountability cases for nearly 15 years. From PFAS contamination to human rights abuse to climate harms, he has led cases against some of the most powerful corporations involving some of the most serious risks to people and the environment.
Christopher Henderson
Senior Counsel
Chris brings more than a decade of experience as a federal regulator, a deep understanding of the consumer goods regulatory landscape, and a passion for protecting consumers and the environment from systemic market and governance failures. After spending much of his career at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Chris offers clients rare insight into how regulators think, how compliance decisions are evaluated, and how companies can build practices that are both legally sound and aligned with public health.
Renee E. Franchi
Senior Counsel
Renee brings a wealth of courtroom and litigation experience to our firm. With an undergraduate degree in biology, Renee’s passion for the sciences, including human health and environmental justice, is what brought her to seek a career in the law.
Jurisdictional Disclaimer
Benchline PLLC is a law firm organized and registered in the District of Columbia. Benchline PLLC is not a California professional law corporation and is not registered as a California law firm.
Although certain Benchline personnel may work from, maintain administrative operations in, or be physically located in California, the firm’s physical presence in California should not be understood to mean that Benchline PLLC is admitted, registered, or authorized as a California law firm.
Benchline PLLC provides legal services only in jurisdictions where its attorneys are admitted to practice, where permitted by applicable court rules, or in association with locally admitted counsel.
Nothing on this website is intended to create an attorney-client relationship, constitute legal advice, or solicit legal employment in any jurisdiction where Benchline PLLC or its attorneys are not authorized to practice. No attorney-client relationship is formed unless and until Benchline PLLC and the client enter into a written engagement agreement.
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