Exhibit 5.2
1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2250 | Dallas, TX 75201-4617 | p 214-217-8888 | f 214-217-8851 | cwlaw.com
Robert J. Stokes | Attorney at Law
p 214-217-8057 | f 214-217-8052 | BStokes@cwlaw.com
October 28, 2011
ITT Corporation
1133 Westchester Ave.
White Plains, NY 10604
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    RE:
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    ITT Deferred Compensation Plan as Amended and Restated as of October 31, 2011 — Registration Statement on Form S-8 | 
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
     We have acted as counsel to ITT Corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the filing of
the above-referenced registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) and we have been asked
to provide this opinion letter regarding the ITT Deferred Compensation Plan as amended and restated
as of October 31, 2011, (the “Plan”). The Registration Statement relates to the proposed offering
of $30,000,000 of deferred compensation obligations pursuant to the Plan.
     In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined: (i) the Plan document in its amended
and restated form dated as of October 31, 2011, (ii) the Board resolution of October 5, 2011,
adopting the Plan and (iii) such other documents, records and instruments as we have deemed
appropriate for the purposes of the opinion set forth herein.
     We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the
authenticity of the documents submitted to use as originals, the conformity to the original
documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, facsimile or photostatic copies, and the
authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.
     Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Plan document is designed to be a “top
hat plan” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), which is
a plan that is unfunded and maintained primarily by an employer for the purpose of providing
deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees. We are also
of the opinion that the provisions of the Plan comply with the requirements of ERISA applicable to
top hat plans.
     We are not providing an opinion as to whether (i) the Plan is being operated by the Company as
a top hat plan under ERISA, or (ii) the employees whom the Company has deemed eligible to
participate in the Plan would constitute a select group of management or highly compensated
employees.
Conner & Winters, LLP | Attorneys and Counselors at Law
Dallas, TX | Houston, TX | NW Arkansas | Oklahoma City, OK | Santa Fe, NM | Tulsa, OK | Washington, DC
 
 
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     We consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement by the
Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of deferred compensation obligations under
the Plan and the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on
Form S-8 relating to the deferred compensation obligations.
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    Very truly yours, 
  Conner & Winters, LLP 
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    By:   | 
    /s/ Robert J. Stokes
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    Robert J. Stokes  | 
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RJS:sam
Conner & Winters, LLP | Attorneys and Counselors at Law
Dallas, TX | Houston, TX | NW Arkansas | Oklahoma City, OK | Santa Fe, NM | Tulsa, OK | Washington, DC