Professional Experience
Mitch Harris primarily represents financial institutions and insurance industry clients in litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings. He also counsels and represents corporations in complex contract cases including sophisticated matters involving Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Mitch has served as lead trial counsel in commercial and insurance litigation in federal and state courts and in arbitrations throughout the country. An objective third-party survey, Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys, has repeatedly recognized Mitch as a "Connecticut Litigation Star."
Representative Matters
· Successfully resolved several class actions against major insurers
· Obtained a seven-figure judgment for excess insurer in a contribution action against coinsurer, which was later upheld by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
· Successfully represented clients in the insurance and financial services industries in many of the most recent significant investigations and suits instituted by attorneys general and state agencies
· Successfully defended major shareholder derivative action against a large utility company
· Successfully defended a multimillion-dollar contract action brought against a prescription benefit management provider
· Favorably resolved four high-profile wrongful death actions against a managed-care company
· Successfully defended a reinsurer in an action by the State of Connecticut alleging antitrust and unfair trade practices claims
· Obtained a unanimous arbitration award in favor of a large manufacturing company in dispute with a supplier that had sought significant compensatory and punitive damages
· Regularly represents cedents and reinsurers in arbitration proceedings
· Regularly counsels an international manufacturing company on U.C.C. Article 2 issues
News, Publications & Presentations
· Featured, "Day Pitney Receives Top Ranking in Benchmark Litigation Survey for Litigation Practices in Connecticut and New Jersey," Day Pitney Press Release, October 15, 2010
· Featured, "Fifteen Day Pitney Attorneys Named in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition," Day Pitney Press Release, February 24, 2010
· Featured, "Fifty-six Day Pitney Partners Recognized as New England Super Lawyers," Day Pitney Press Release, October 30, 2009
· Featured, "Day Pitney LLP Partners Named as Top Litigation Practitioners by Benchmark: Litigation, 2009," Day Pitney Press Release, December 2008
· Speaker, "Articles 2 & 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code What You Should Know (And Have Possibly Forgotten?)," WESFACCA, March 25, 2008
Professional Affiliations
· American Bar Association
· Connecticut Bar Association
· AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society (ARIAS-U.S.)
· Connecticut Bar Foundation, James W. Cooper Fellow
Outside Interests
· Mitch was appointed by a former Connecticut governor to serve as the first chairman of Connecticut's State Marshal Commission, which oversees all of Connecticut's state marshal process servers. He chaired the newly formed commission for three years, during which he worked with leaders in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches to shape and solidify the commission's role and function within the state government. Mitch also was the principal initial author of the Commission's regulations.
Awards and Achievements
· Repeatedly recognized as a Connecticut, New England and Corporate Counsel Super Lawyer
· Repeatedly recognized by Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys, as one of Connecticut's "Litigation Stars"