For years, the Atlanta Bar Association has encouraged its members to take an adversary to lunch at this time of year. The idea is to encourage civility and professionalism, but it also could be regarded as an exercise in business development.

Getting to know a lawyer you usually regard as an adversary makes it easier for the two of you to refer business to each other or suggest that others do so. All things being equal, most of us would rather do business with someone we like and who treats us with respect. I know some litigators and other lawyers believe being a jerk commands the respect of colleagues, but actually it just earns you a reputation of being hard to work with.