Carson M. Shea

Overview

Carson Shea focuses his practice in commercial, intellectual property, and employment litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts, administrative proceedings, and at arbitration and mediation. Carson also advises clients on employment issues.

Commercial and Intellectual Property Litigation. Carson litigates a wide range of business/commercial disputes involving fraud and misrepresentation, breach of contract and fiduciary duty, business interference, unfair competition, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and inter-entity disputes, including LLCs and partnerships. Carson also represents commercial landlords in disputes concerning lease and license agreements, tenancy, and real estate matters.

As part of his intellectual property practice, Carson represents clients in disputes involving patents and trade secrets across various industries and technologies, including cases involving trade secret misappropriation, patent infringement, and challenges to the validity of patents. Carson represents clients before state and federal trial and appellate courts, and in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the USPTO.

Employment Litigation and Advising. Carson defends businesses in state and federal court, and before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). Carson has represented employers in litigation involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour violations, among other employment-related claims. Carson also defends and advises businesses and individuals concerning employment contracts, wage and hour compliance, and non-competition and non-solicitation agreements (restrictive covenants), and compliance with other state and federal statutes. Carson frequently drafts employee handbooks, employment agreements, separation and severance agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and other employment agreements.

Financial Services Litigation. Carson defends financial institutions and loan servicers in various matters involving alleged loan servicing violations, contested foreclosures and evictions, lender liability, mortgage lending and fraud, alleged predatory lending, municipals liens and claims including code violation matters, condominium, tax and other priority liens, receivership, takings/eminent domain, and debt collection and collections activities, among others.

Prior Experience. Prior to joining Eckert Seamans, Carson practiced with a Boston firm where he defended clients in product liability and commercial litigation cases throughout New England. He also served as a judicial law clerk to the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court. During law school, Carson was a senior staff editor of the Northeastern University Law Journal and served as a judicial intern to Chief Justice Scheier of the Massachusetts Land Court.

Representative Matters

• Member of trial team that obtained defense verdict after bench trial in class action lawsuit involving allegations of unpaid overtime in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and state law. U.S. District Court-Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2025).
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of mortgage servicer in case involving alleged violations of federal regulations requiring a face-to-face meeting prior to foreclosure. U.S. District Court-Massachusetts (2023). Successfully defended judgment on appeal. U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (2024).
• Obtained $5.1 million judgment in corporate fraud and civil commercial bribery case. U.S. District Court-Rhode Island (2023).
• Represented genetic medicine company in business fraud and trade secret dispute. Obtained dismissal of fraud claims against company CEO in their individual capacity and dismissal of shareholder derivative claims against the company. U.S. District Court-Massachusetts (2022).
• Successfully prosecuted numerous claims on behalf of commercial landlords against commercial tenants, including recovery of damages in excess of $1 million.
• Successfully defended commercial landlords against claims of breach of contract, unfair business practices, and other business torts.
• Obtained summary judgment on claims for breach of contract and injunctive and declaratory relief against financial institution and loan servicer. Massachusetts Superior Court (2020). Successfully defended appeal before the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Massachusetts Appeals Court (2021).
• Successfully defended breach of contract action against financial institution on appeal before the First Circuit. U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (2020).
• Obtained dismissal of lawsuit for breach of contract and declaratory relief seeking to enforce the sale of property. U.S. District Court-Massachusetts (2020).