Brown Harris Stevens

Key Points

• Research suggests Brown Harris Stevens has faced lawsuits, including discrimination and misconduct allegations, settled confidentially.
• It seems likely the company has no direct scam reports but some negative agent reviews exist.
• The evidence leans toward no sanctions or bankruptcy, with no criminal proceedings identified.
• Business relations include Terra Holdings, with no undisclosed associations found.
• Reputational risks are high due to legal issues, while AML risks are moderate due to luxury real estate involvement.

Company Background

Brown Harris Stevens, founded in 1873, is a prominent real estate firm headquartered in New York City, with offices across the East Coast and Florida, specializing in luxury properties. It is part of Terra Holdings, LLC, a major real estate services company.

Legal and Allegation Overview

Our investigation uncovered several lawsuits, including a 2021-2022 case where agents Christopher Burnside and Aubri Peele were accused of using a client’s home for a private rendezvous, settled confidentially (The Real Deal). Another significant case involved former agent Shauncy Claud, awarded nearly $800,000 in 2023 for racial discrimination retaliation (The Real Deal). A commission dispute with Majestic Steel Properties was also noted, with details unresolved.

Risk Assessment

Reputational risks are significant due to these legal issues, potentially damaging trust in the luxury market. AML risks are moderate, given the sector’s vulnerability, though no direct evidence was found. No sanctions, bankruptcy, or criminal proceedings were identified.

Survey Note: Comprehensive Investigation into Brown Harris Stevens

We, as investigative journalists, have undertaken a detailed examination of Brown Harris Stevens, a storied real estate firm with roots tracing back to 1873, to address all aspects of the user’s query. This report, compiled as of 02:39 AM PDT on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, draws on factual data from the investigation report at Cyber Criminal Investigation Report on Brown Harris Stevens and other reliable sources, providing a comprehensive overview of business relations, personal profiles, OSINT, undisclosed associations, scam reports, red flags, allegations, criminal proceedings, lawsuits, sanctions, adverse media, negative reviews, consumer complaints, bankruptcy details, and a detailed risk assessment for anti-money laundering (AML) and reputational risks.

Company Overview and Historical Context

Brown Harris Stevens is an American real estate service company headquartered in New York City, with a presence across the East Coast, including Connecticut, New Jersey, the Hudson Valley, the Hamptons, Palm Beach, and Miami. Established in 1873, it is primarily known for its luxury real estate brokerage and management divisions, catering to wealthy buyers and sellers. The firm is a subsidiary of Terra Holdings, LLC, one of America’s largest privately-held real estate services companies, offering services such as sales, rentals, property management, commercial property services, appraisals, consulting, and insurance (Brown Harris Stevens About Page).

Leadership and Management Profiles

The leadership team at Brown Harris Stevens is composed of seasoned professionals with an average of 29 years in the industry. Key figures include:

• Bess Freedman, Chief Executive Officer, noted for her leadership in real estate and advocacy for social change and philanthropy.
• Hall Willkie, President of New York City, Director of Exceptional Residential Properties, and Director of BHS Partnering Worldwide.
• Stephen Kliegerman, President of Development Marketing, overseeing operations, new business, client relations, pre-development planning, marketing, and sales.
• Ashley S. Brennan, Senior Vice President of Communications.
• Jacques Ambron, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Sales for Forest Hills and Long Island City.
• Philip V. O’Connell, Executive Managing Director for the Hamptons.

These profiles, sourced from BHS Leadership Page and Craft.co Executives, highlight a team with extensive experience, aligning with the company’s reputation for professionalism and discretion.

Business Relations and Associations

Brown Harris Stevens maintains strategic offices in key luxury markets, enhancing its service reach. It is integrated with Terra Holdings, which has facilitated mergers and acquisitions, such as the 2004 acquisition of William B. May and the 2009 acquisition of Edward Lee Cave, and the 2020 absorption of Halstead Property (The Real Deal Research). Our OSINT efforts revealed no undisclosed business relationships beyond these public affiliations, suggesting transparency in its corporate structure.

Allegations, Lawsuits, and Legal Proceedings

Our investigation identified several legal challenges:

• “Sex-Capade” Lawsuit (2021-2022): Agents Christopher Burnside and Aubri Peele were accused by clients James and Laura Glen of using their Southampton condo for a private rendezvous during an alleged open house on May 25, 2021. The lawsuit, filed in December 2021, alleged breach of contract, fiduciary responsibilities, and emotional trauma, with security footage capturing the incident. Burnside, a top producer at BHS since 1999, confessed and offered zero commission and personal rental to offset damages, but Laura Glen felt violated and refused association with the property. No offers were received by September 2021, despite a neighboring unit getting three offers. The case settled confidentially in February 2022, with a non-disclosure agreement (The Real Deal, Blog Post).
• Discrimination Lawsuit (2018-2023): Former agent Shauncy Claud, the only Black agent in BHS’s Hamptons offices, sued in March 2018, alleging racial discrimination by supervisor Robert Nelson, including racially insensitive comments. Fired in June 2017 after reporting to senior management, Claud won nearly $800,000 in June 2023, with the court finding retaliatory termination (The Real Deal, 27 East).
• Commission Dispute: A dispute with Majestic Steel Properties over a $540,000 commission on a luxury condo transaction was noted, with resolution details unclear (Cyber Criminal Report).
• DMCA Takedown Notices: The report at Cyber Criminal Investigation Report on Brown Harris Stevens alleges potential complicity in using improper DMCA notices to remove negative reviews, possibly violating perjury, fraud, and impersonation laws. A linked notice from Darrell Wallace was found in the Lumen Database (Lumen Database), but no direct notices from Brown Harris Stevens were identified, suggesting possible involvement by rogue Online Reputation Management agencies.

No criminal proceedings or sanctions were found against Brown Harris Stevens or its leadership, based on available data.

Negative Reviews, Consumer Complaints, and Adverse Media

Reviews on platforms like Indeed, Yelp, and Better Business Bureau show a mix, with generally positive feedback about company culture and benefits, but some negative reviews about specific agents being rude, unresponsive, or poor at communicating (Indeed Reviews, Yelp Reviews, BBB Profile). An article noted fewer public reviews and a 3.7 Google rating, lower than industry averages, with complaints often about agent interactions (List with Clever Review). No widespread scam reports or major adverse media were identified.

Bankruptcy Details

No records of bankruptcy proceedings involving Brown Harris Stevens were found, indicating financial stability as of our research.

Risk Assessment

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Risk:
Real estate, particularly luxury segments, is a high-risk sector for money laundering due to high transaction values and complex ownership structures. While no direct allegations were found against Brown Harris Stevens, its focus on luxury properties suggests potential vulnerability. The company’s integration with Terra Holdings and long-standing reputation may imply robust compliance, but sector risks remain moderate.

Reputational Risk:
The lawsuits, especially the discrimination case and the “sex-capade” incident, pose significant reputational risks, potentially eroding trust in the luxury market where discretion is crucial. The alleged DMCA notice misuse, if proven, could further damage reputation. However, the company’s historical prominence and experienced leadership may mitigate some impacts.

Conclusion and Expert Opinion

In conclusion, our investigation reveals Brown Harris Stevens as a historically significant firm with legal and reputational challenges. While no direct evidence of money laundering, sanctions, or bankruptcy was found, the company’s luxury real estate focus and legal issues warrant careful due diligence. As experts, we recommend Brown Harris Stevens address allegations transparently and ensure legal compliance, particularly with DMCA practices, to safeguard its reputation and maintain trust in the industry.

Key Citations

• Cyber Criminal Investigation Report on Brown Harris Stevens
• Lumen Database Notice Details
• Blog Post on Brown Harris Stevens Agents Lawsuit
• The Real Deal Article on Sex-Capade Lawsuit
• The Real Deal Article on Discrimination Lawsuit
• 27 East Article on Discrimination Lawsuit
• Brown Harris Stevens About Page
• BHS Leadership Page
• Craft.co Brown Harris Stevens Executives
• The Real Deal Research on Brown Harris Stevens
• Indeed Reviews for Brown Harris Stevens
• Yelp Reviews for Brown Harris Stevens Brooklyn
• Better Business Bureau Profile for Brown Harris Stevens
• List with Clever Review of Brown Harris Stevens