Michael P. Maslanka

July 16, 2007 | Corporate Counsel

Looking to help C-level executives by reading one of those blockbuster business books? Having restless nights worrying about what to do when the inevitable corporate crisis blindsides the GC's office? Attorney Michael P. Maslanka has several summer reading recommendations that address these issues as well as giving advice on career growth, negotiating and the art of persuasion. Here's what to toss in the beach bag and square away in the backpack.

By Michael P. Maslanka

6 minute read

August 07, 2006 | Law.com

Hurricane Katrina hammered New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005. The Twin Towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001. And power outages are afflicting cities across the U.S. Are GCs and their companies really prepared to handle emergencies, no matter what? Here are seven steps to follow and a legal primer to keep handy, prepared by attorneys Michael P. Maslanka and Burton D. Brillhart. Just one of the important tips: In any type of disaster, the core executive team "must stick together just like a ball of sushi rice."

By Michael P. Maslanka and Burton D. Brillhart

7 minute read

December 04, 2006 | Texas Lawyer

Have the party, forget the alcohol. Sure, cocktails can be morale boosters, but they present a number of liability pitfalls.

By Michael P. Maslanka

10 minute read

August 23, 2010 | The Legal Intelligencer

Shakespeare's "Othello" ends badly, with several bodies on stage. The tragic scene offers a cautionary tale for attorneys. Here's the combustible stew that brought about the carnage: Iago is a Venetian soldier. Othello is his high-ranking commander, who promotes the handsome and smooth-talking Cassio, an administrative-type, as his second-in-command, instead of Iago. An angered Iago vows vengeance.

By Michael P. Maslanka

7 minute read

December 06, 2004 | Texas Lawyer

A report on the five most significant work matters developments of 2004, and what they will mean to general counsel in 2005.

By Michael P. Maslanka and Burton D. Brillhart

9 minute read

August 01, 2005 | Texas Lawyer

Frames must encompass an alternative reality, not merely be a response to the other side's frame. They must be authentic, internally consistent and passionately believed.

By Michael P. Maslanka

6 minute read

February 04, 2008 | Texas Lawyer

You don't need a weather vane to know which way the wind is blowing, and you don't need a Wall Street Journal subscription to know we're in a recession. Yes, there is a dispute about whether this is so, but disaster � when you're in its midst � is hard to detect.

By Michael P. Maslanka

6 minute read

March 07, 2005 | Texas Lawyer

Here are 10 ways to inculcate a culture of better employee relations, fewer disputes and decreased corporate risk.

By Michael P. Maslanka

5 minute read

January 07, 2008 | Texas Lawyer

General counsel manage lawyers, either in-house or out. Those lawyers must deal with dysfunctional opposing counsel, who often profit from their nuttiness and are just as often unrepentant about it. It takes a toll, making the GCs' lawyers less efficient and more miserable. What's to be done?

By Michael P. Maslanka

4 minute read

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