Michael P. Maslanka

November 24, 2004 | Corporate Counsel

By Michael P. Maslanka and Burton D. Brillhart

14 minute read

October 07, 2011 | The Legal Intelligencer

In the "Alice in Wonderland" world of employment law, one of the hard parts of an in-house lawyer's job is telling an internal client that something that makes zero practical sense makes complete legal sense.

By Michael P. Maslanka

7 minute read

September 04, 2006 | Texas Lawyer

Here's what lawyers know: The U.S. Supreme Court changed retaliation law in Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. v. White. But here's what employers' lawyers don't yet fully understand: What does it mean for the general counsel's office?

By Michael P. Maslanka

8 minute read

June 04, 2008 | Corporate Counsel

In 1975, Michael Maslanka dropped out of college and worked as a hotel desk clerk. Maslanka is an employment lawyer now, but he's never forgotten the lessons he's learned from his hotel boss. Here's one of the lessons that will help corporate counsel when it comes to deciding whether to impose the equivalent of capital punishment in employment: termination. It starts with what Maslanka calls "principled compassion" and the questions to ask to find if termination is warranted.

By Michael P. Maslanka

6 minute read

April 18, 2006 | Law.com

Among the demographic, technological, cultural and political forces that shape a general counsel's world, three fast-approaching, inexorable trends guaranteed to impact GCs are: an aging work force, a multicultural work force and geographic migration. Ford & Harrison's Michael P. Maslanka presents a look at how population trends will concern general counsel in a future that is not very far away. And, yes, there are some positives along with the negatives.

By Michael P. Maslanka

7 minute read

December 07, 2009 | Texas Lawyer

Desire influence? Hunger to persuade? Yearn for self-knowledge? The answers are out there (apologies to "The X Files"). Here's the paradox: You can only get the answers to these questions by asking more questions. In his Work Matters column, Michael P. Maslanka says he loves questions because they clarify issues, funnel attention and pry open awareness.

By Michael P. Maslanka

9 minute read

April 07, 2008 | Corporate Counsel

Arbitration: boon or bane? Are Texas companies continuing to embrace it, or will they shun it? The March 25 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Hall Street Associates, LLC v. Mattel, Inc. provides the answer: Fewer companies will go to arbitration, and more will shake the magic eight ball and opt for the civil justice system. Attorney Michael P. Maslanka discusses the influential ruling.

By Michael P. Maslanka

4 minute read

May 31, 2002 | Texas Lawyer

Ah summer! Let`s hit the beaches, swim in the surf, pour on the tanning oil and trade briefcases for beach bags. And here`s one more vacation tip: Stick a book in your bag, and not the latest convoluted Tom Clancy or overwrought John Grisham. Instead, bring along one that transforms you from a mere competent counsel to a trusted adviser, which morphs you from expendable soldier to irreplaceable consigliere. (Hmm, sounds like the next summer blockbuster to us.) So, here are some reading suggestions for your

By MICHAEL P. MASLANKA and THERESA M. GEGEN

9 minute read

October 03, 2011 | Texas Lawyer

In the "Alice in Wonderland" world of employment law, one of the hard parts of an in-house lawyer's job is telling an internal client that something that makes zero practical sense makes complete legal sense, says Michael P. Maslanka. For example, an employee may be able to turn over confidential company information and then prevail against that same company in an anti-retaliation or wrongful-discharge suit. Have courts really made such decisions? The answer is yes, many times.

By Michael P. Maslanka

7 minute read

November 13, 2006 | New Jersey Law Journal

There are ways general counsel can transform the oppressive weight of the Burlington Northern ruling into a corporate advantage.

By Michael P. Maslanka

4 minute read