Day Pitney Elects Seven New Partners in 2026 Class

Day Pitney LLP is pleased to announce the elevation of seven attorneys to partner, effective January 1, 2026. These promotions reflect the firm’s continued growth and commitment to recognizing excellence, leadership, and client service.

“Our new partner class exemplifies the depth of talent and client-first mindset that sets Day Pitney apart,” commented Gregory A. Hayes, Day Pitney’s Managing Partner. “Each of our new partners has earned the trust of clients and colleagues through outstanding advocacy, collaboration, and leadership. Their elevation reflects our continued investment in excellence and in the people who drive our success.”

Representing multiple offices across the firm’s footprint, including Boston, Hartford, Parsippany, and West Palm Beach, Day Pitney’s new partners are:

Michael L. Fialkoff (Litigation; Parsippany) represents clients in high-stakes commercial litigation, including consumer class actions, contractual disputes, intellectual property disputes, and disputes under the New Jersey Franchise Practices Act. He handles all aspects of litigation, including discovery, trial, appeal, and alternative dispute resolution. In addition to his commercial litigation work, Fialkoff has an active fiduciary and probate litigation practice and represents both fiduciaries and beneficiaries in complex estate matters. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from University of Michigan Law School, and his B.A., with Honors and Highest Distinction, from University of Michigan. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York.

Ashley Membrino Fote (Real Estate; Hartford) assists clients in commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, commercial leasing, and financings for both borrowers and lenders. She drafts and negotiates equity documents, as well as acquisition, disposition, and financing documents. Fote has substantial experience in all aspects of real estate finance, including construction, bridge and permanent mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, and preferred equity. She represents clients that range from individual investors in commercial real estate to financial institutions, life insurance companies, commercial lenders, and private equity real estate funds. Fote earned her J.D., Honors, from the University of Connecticut School of Law and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Western New England University. She is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York. 

Alex J. Harrington (Litigation; Boston) represents individuals, families, and professional fiduciaries in a broad range of complex estate and trust litigation, as well as guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. His practice encompasses all aspects of probate, trust, and equity disputes, including will contests, fiduciary duty claims, and contested accountings. Harrington also provides counsel to fiduciaries on risk management, compliance, and dispute avoidance strategies, drawing on his experience navigating intricate family dynamics, sensitive interpersonal issues, and multi-party conflicts. He earned his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and B.A. from Elon University. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts. 

Heather N. Harris (Trusts & Estates; Boston) advises individuals and families on all aspects of estate and tax planning.  She develops and implements sophisticated strategies to minimize income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes while achieving each client’s unique financial and personal objectives. Harris has extensive experience guiding clients through all stages of trust and estate administration, including trust and estate controversies. She also serves as trustee and regularly advises individual and professional fiduciaries on their duties and responsibilities. Harris earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from Western New England University School of Law and her B.A. and B.S. from University of Connecticut. She is admitted to practice in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Luke S. Pontier (Real Estate; Parsippany) represents buyers, sellers, and developers in a wide range of real estate and land use matters. He prepares and coordinates land use applications for subdivisions, site plans, and variance applications, and represents applicants before municipal planning and zoning boards. He also assists clients with all aspects of the redevelopment process. Pontier’s practice includes drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, leases, easements, and loan documents. Additionally, he assists with the formation of commercial and residential condominiums, as well as special purpose entities and joint ventures. Pontier earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School and his B.S., magna cum laude, from Fordham University. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey. 

Stephanie Eassa Rapp (Trusts & Estates; West Palm Beach) focuses her practice on sophisticated estate planning for high-net-worth individuals and families, developing customized, tax-efficient strategies that reflect each client’s unique priorities and goals. She builds trusted relationships through a conscientious and personal approach, taking the time to understand family dynamics, wealth structures, and long-term objectives to craft tailored plans that achieve clarity and peace of mind. A significant portion of her practice involves advising clients on domicile changes to Florida and addressing related homestead and other nuances specific to Florida law, as well as federal estate, gift, and transfer tax considerations. Stephanie has extensive experience in managing estate and trust administration matters in and out of the Florida court systems, where she is skilled in navigating contentious issues and advising fiduciaries on their duties and responsibilities. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from Southern Methodist University School of Law and her B.S., cum laude, from University of Florida. She is admitted to practice in Florida. 

Nikolaus Schuttauf (Trusts & Estates; Boston) focuses on helping high net worth individuals and families develop sophisticated estate planning strategies to reduce estate taxes, preserve multigenerational wealth, and ensure seamless asset transfers. He creates tailored estate plans that help clients achieve their unique goals while minimizing tax exposure and avoiding probate. Schuttauf also has extensive experience guiding clients through domicile changes to Florida, assisting them with residency transitions and navigating the associated legal and tax considerations. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from New England School of Law and his B.A. from Stonehill College. He is admitted to practice in Florida, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

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