About Stephen M.
Stephen M. Zaffuto completed his undergraduate studies at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, earning a B.A. in 2006. He went on to receive his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2011. Those years shaped an interest in land use and housing policy that would inform his early career choices.
He entered private practice soon after law school. In 2012 he joined Tucker Arensberg as an associate. There he worked on transactional matters and learned the practical side of commercial and residential real estate deals. That period offered steady courtroom exposure and frequent negotiations over contracts and title issues.
In 2018 he moved to High Swartz LLP. The change coincided with a shift toward more development-oriented work. At High Swartz he has handled a range of matters tied to property — purchases and sales, leasing, easements, and closing logistics. He has also been involved in regulatory questions that touch on development and housing compliance.
His professional affiliations reflect his practice interests. He has been a member of the Montgomery Bar Association since 2018 and serves on its Real Estate Committee. He joined the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2018 and belongs to the Pennsylvania Housing Alliance the same year. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Developers Council. Those memberships keep him connected to local developments in zoning, landlord-tenant law, and community housing initiatives.
Colleagues describe him as methodical in approaching transaction details and attentive to title and survey issues. He is known for walking clients through complex closing schedules and coordinating with lenders, surveyors, and municipal officials. His practice has emphasized preventing problems before they reach litigation by addressing title defects, easement conflicts, and municipal compliance early in a deal.
He is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and has built a practice that bridges private development and housing matters. He continues to handle transactional real estate work, often advising developers, landlords, and buyers on contract terms, due diligence, and closing mechanics. He currently works at High Swartz LLP and handles real estate matters at the firm.
