On October 20, 2026, Benedicto & Simonovich LLP founding partners Kevin Benedicto and Jacqueline Simonovich joined Luke Blackett of Latham & Watkins for “Breaking the Cycle of Incivility,” a virtual continuing legal education program presented by the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Barristers Diversity & Inclusion Committee. The program carried one hour of MCLE credit in Civility in the Legal Profession.
The panel started from a premise that is easy to overlook: uncivil conduct in the legal profession is often treated as an individual failing, when it is frequently learned. It is modeled, tolerated, and in some cases rewarded, and it passes from senior attorneys to the associates who train under them. Drawing on experience in both litigation and transactional practice, the panelists discussed why that cycle persists and what can be done to interrupt it.
Key Themes
How incivility is modeled and learned.
Individual accountability. The panelists considered how individual lawyers can curb the cycle in their own practice, including when they are not the most senior person in the room.
Firm culture. The discussion addressed what law firms can do to build cultures that do not perpetuate uncivil behavior.
Client interests. The panel also examined why uncivil conduct does not serve a client’s best interests, a point with practical consequences in litigation, negotiation, and dispute resolution.
Why This Matters
Civility is often framed as a matter of professionalism or etiquette. For litigators, it is also a matter of effective advocacy. Unnecessary hostility can escalate disputes, entrench positions, and increase cost for the client, which is why the firm treats it as a strategic issue and not only an ethical one.
Benedicto & Simonovich LLP thanks the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Barristers Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Luke Blackett, and everyone who attended and participated.
About Benedicto & Simonovich LLP
Benedicto & Simonovich LLP is a boutique litigation firm based in San Francisco and Los Angeles, dedicated to strategic, high-quality representation in complex disputes, internal and external investigations, and matters involving emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The firm also offers mediation and alternative dispute resolution services.