Eckert Seamans Attorneys Named to 2025 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
October 17, 2025
Lawyers from national law firm Eckert Seamans’ Boston office have been named to the 2025 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list, an honor received by no more than five percent and 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state, respectively.
Members Craig Waksler and Kevin Young have been named as 2025 Super Lawyers. Those recognized as Rising Stars include Members Harrison Kaplan, Nicholas Schneider, and Carson Shea, as well as Associates Vanessa Erickson-Malone, Rachel Moss, Pavli Permeti, and Trevin Schmidt.
Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained high peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.
Craig Waksler focuses his practice primarily on the defense of asbestos and mass tort litigation matters and the defense of personal injury and property damage cases. He represents asbestos defendants in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as companies throughout the U.S. that range from Fortune 500 manufacturing companies to small supply houses that manufacture/sell fluid sealing products, pumps, valves, boilers, water heaters, construction products, electrical products, brakes, engines, and marine products. Waksler also maintains an active insurance coverage practice, in which he has over 25 years of experience providing the country’s leading insurance companies with coverage advice.
Kevin Young focuses his practice on complex product liability litigation, including the defense of cases involving a variety of toxic materials, industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals, and automotive defects. He has over 30 years of experience in defending numerous major manufacturers of asbestos-containing products in local, regional, and national courts.
Harrison Kaplan focuses his practice on product liability, mass tort litigation, and commercial litigation matters. He represents companies in litigation matters both locally and nationally. Kaplan also has experience resolving business disputes for clients involving commercial contract disputes and financial services.
Nicholas Schneider concentrates his practice on complex commercial disputes, representing clients of all sizes, from individuals to Fortune 500 companies, in state and federal trial and appellate courts, arbitrations, and mediations. He litigates matters involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, business torts, employment disputes, misappropriation of trade secrets, copyright infringement, unfair competition, real estate disputes, class actions, and other commercial disputes.
Carson Shea focuses his practice on business and commercial litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts, administrative proceedings, and at arbitration and mediation. He also advises and defends clients in employment and product liability matters.
Vanessa Erickson-Malone focuses her practice on mass tort litigation matters. She has experience handling litigation matters varying from complex commercial litigation to general liability cases from pre-suit through trial. She represents insurers and their insureds through litigation reports and communications with claims representatives.
Rachel Moss concentrates her practice on mass tort litigation and products liability. She serves as national coordinating counsel in asbestos litigation matters for a large manufacturing company, working directly with local counsel, experts, and corporate witnesses to develop uniformed defense strategies and solutions that are implemented across the country.
Pavli Permeti provides strategic advice and guidance to individuals and businesses, both profit and not-for-profit organizations, on various matters such as tax, business organization, financial transactions and real estate. Pavli primarily advises individuals and businesses on such matters as domestic and international tax planning, mergers and acquisitions, and recapitalizations.
Trevin Schmidt focuses his practice on complex civil litigation matters spanning business, commercial, insurance coverage, and employment disputes in state and federal trial and appellate courts, administrative proceedings, and arbitration and mediation. He also advises clients on employment issues to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.