Michael P. Maslanka

October 03, 2007 | Law.com

At some point in a general counsel's career, the combination of a denied summary judgment and a failed mediation will equal a looming trial date. What's a GC to do when the court coordinator calls and says, "Come pick a jury on Monday"? Attorney Michael P. Maslanka offers 10 rules, including: Don't try a case by accident; you can stumble into love but not into a trial; and, the decision to try a case must be deliberate.

By Michael P. Maslanka

7 minute read

February 10, 2003 | Law.com

When executives get deposed, they must be ready. But what you need from them is what they have in short supply -- time. They'll look to you to leverage to the max what time they do have. The key to GCs meeting their needs is to make every minute of preparation count. Here are 10 tips to help you get them ready, fast and effectively.

By Michael P. Maslanka and Tonya L. Meier

10 minute read

August 16, 2005 | Law.com

Once upon a time, Web logs were benign: a person just sharing his idle, diary-like thoughts on the World Wide Web, a Haight-Ashbury of cyberspace. But nothing so simple and refreshingly naive lasts long, says attorney Michael P. Maslanka. When an employee blogs a C-level executive's company, what's the response? There are two mind-sets: the first, opportunistic and business-based (let's learn, channel and leverage); the second, repressive and legalistic (let's regulate, squash and punish).

By Michael P. Maslanka

6 minute read

March 06, 2006 | Texas Lawyer

Here are the single most important things a corporate counsel needs to know about each of six employment law topics.

By Michael P. Maslanka

4 minute read

February 16, 2005 | Law.com

For a law student, the law is all certitude and declarative sentences: One side is right; the other is wrong. Being a lawyer, though, generates ambiguities and questions: Is it possible our side did something wrong? If so, what is the company's response? Discrimination. Employment suit. Risk. Acknowledgement of guilt. Bias. They�re enough to turn the strongest GC�s stomach. Here is a five-step program on how to fix things when a general counsel is looking up at the moral high ground and not down from it.

By Michael P. Maslanka and Theresa M. Gegen

9 minute read

April 15, 2009 | Texas Lawyer

The 5th U.S. Circuit court of Appeals often sets the pace for its sister circuits as they all start to confront a surge in employment claims, says Michael P. Maslanka. The court's message to employees with its recent opinions: Maybe the discrimination you underwent is bad, but it's not that bad. It could have been worse, so just cowboy up and move on.

By By Michael P. Maslanka

6 minute read

September 06, 2010 | Texas Lawyer

Michael P. Maslanka says he's been wondering: How can the latest in cognitive theory help corporate counsel get their jobs done and make the mission? He came up with one lesson for lawyers: Less is more. Whether in speaking to a jury or writing to a judge, don't pile on, and leave room for the "deciders" to go from point A to point B by themselves.

By Michael P. Maslanka

8 minute read

October 01, 2007 | Texas Lawyer

What's a GC to do when the court coordinator calls and says, "Come pick a jury on Monday"?

By Michael P. Maslanka

7 minute read

December 08, 2008 | Texas Lawyer

Obama/Biden v. McCain/Palin. Campaign over. Outcome decided. Now it's time for the after-action reports, political and otherwise. So, are there any work matters lessons to be learned? As one of the candidates might say, "You betcha."

By Michael P. Maslanka

7 minute read

February 01, 2010 | Texas Lawyer

At this moment, employees at companies across the country are "friending," tweeting and blogging. It's called social media, and it is so much more than surfing the Web. Thinking otherwise is, well, very last decade. Social media is how people network, gather and connect. We are it, and it is us. General counsel have two choices: prohibit its use or leverage it. Leverage is better. But what about a policy? Here are some questions GCs should ask themselves if they decide to create one.

By Michael P. Maslanka

8 minute read