Michael P. Maslanka

August 19, 2008 | Law.com

Why do students still read Shakespeare? Because of a conspiracy of finger-wagging high school English teachers? No, it's his empathetic powers, making people see themselves as they are, writes Ford & Harrison managing partner Michael Maslanka, who says Shakespeare has much to teach lawyers on judging, the rule of law and the relationship between mercy and justice. As evidence, Maslanka discusses "Measure for Measure" and its parallels to the legal world.

By Michael P. Maslanka

5 minute read

December 08, 2005 | Corporate Counsel

The general counsel's office deals with a broad range of work-matters issues: setting an effective tone for human resources; avoiding the next wave of employment claims; helping C-levels hire the best and brightest. So for December, here are some stocking-stuffer ideas for those management concerns. Because what else can we give to the GC who has everything?

By Michael P. Maslanka

8 minute read

October 06, 2004 | Corporate Counsel

By Michael P. Maslanka and Burton Brillhart

11 minute read

January 05, 2004 | Texas Lawyer

This year may not be better than the last when it comes to labor and employment law. Several new trends -� or, more precisely, obscured ones finally coming into sharper resolution �- will make 2004 an especially challenging one for the general counsel�s office.

By Michael P. Maslanka and Burton D. Brillhart

11 minute read

March 01, 2004 | Texas Lawyer

Policies, handbooks and procedures. Nothing is a substitute for good judgment, fair treatment, or a corporate culture of integrity and respect.

By Michael P. Maslanka and Burton D. Brillhart

10 minute read

September 07, 2009 | Texas Lawyer

Why do we do what we do? The answer, says Michael P. Maslanka, can be found in the "reptile brain." How our brains developed thousands of years ago illuminates the whys of our actions today, he says. Cognitive research and evolutionary biology tell us a lot about human motivation, and the information is useful to lawyers now.

By Michael P. Maslanka

7 minute read

November 01, 2004 | Texas Lawyer

As the holiday season has lengthened, work-matter challenges for corporate counsel offices have increased. Some of the challenges include bonus and commission payments, the timing of terminations, holiday parties and religious discrimination.

By Michael P. Maslanka and Burton D. Brillhart

14 minute read

December 19, 2005 | Texas Lawyer

Like most important decisions, it started with random events coalescing: red faces; a thought on the law's power; a crystalline moment, cleaving the world into two parts.

By Michael P. Maslanka

4 minute read

August 09, 2007 | Law.com

What is the U.S. Supreme Court dining on from the employment law menu this coming term? It's a four-course meal, and attorney Michael P. Maslanka tells us what the discerning diner needs to know. Among the tasty issues to be addressed: whether "me too" evidence is admissible in a discrimination case, and whether an employee can sue a retirement plan fiduciary for individual losses due to a fiduciary breach.

By Michael P. Maslanka

6 minute read

April 14, 2009 | Corporate Counsel

The 5th Circuit often sets the pace for its sister circuits as they all start to confront a surge in employment claims. Attorney Michael P. Maslanka says the court's message to employees is: Maybe the discrimination you underwent is bad, but it's not that bad. Maslanka analyzes three cases that illustrate the 5th Circuit's approach, which he predicts will return to the one-free-dog-bite rule adapted to employment law: one free threat, one free racial comment, one free physical encounter.

By Michael P. Maslanka

6 minute read