Douglas Elliman: Ex-Elliman broker sues firm for allegedly trying to make her pay it back for ads, assistants

One of the city's top real estate agents is blasting former employer Douglas Elliman for allegedly trying to stiff her out of about $2 million in a contract dispute that could have larger repercussions.Holly Parker, who decamped to Compass in February after a 24-year run at Elliman, claims in a new lawsuit that her ex-boss is trying to strong arm her into paying back $1.6 million she says was legitimately spent to promote Parker's business while she was with the company.She also claims in the suit, filed Wednesday in Manhattan state Supreme Court, that Elliman additionally hasn't paid her $386,000 in commissions and other fees involving 10 deals she put in contract but that closed after she left."Angered over Parker's departure, Elliman has not only wrongfully withheld her compensation, but it has insisted that Parker pay it a seven-figure sum," says the suit. "Elliman's position is not sustainable."Elliman has not yet responded in court to the complaint, which is seeking a jury trial. And Douglas Elliman spokesman Stephen Larkin had no comment by press time.But the company, one of the city's largest brokerages, is expected to argue that "clawbacks"-provisions in contracts aimed at preventing employees from racking up huge bills before they jump ship but that critics say are used to discourage employees from ever leaving-have become an industry standard.Brokerages that poach agents as a hiring incentive reportedly often pick up the tab for any money that agents have to hand over because of clawbacks. Whether Compass did so in Parker's case and to what extent, if any, is unclear.Parker did not return an email seeking comment by press time. And her lawyer, Michael Rakower, declined to comment when reached by phone.In any event, the lawsuit's outcome may boil down to some key dates.Parker's side claims that under the terms of her longtime contract, she might have indeed been on the hook for some clawbacks, including funds spent on ads and administrative assistants, had she quit the company during the period covered by the contract, which expired at the end of 2024, according to the suit.But Parker instead left the firm Feb. 5, the suit says, so she shouldn't be denied benefits accrued during her contract period.Overall, Parker alleges Elliman is effectively claiming she owes the firm for money invested months ago on her behalf, including $85,200 in ads and $394,000 in salaries for assistants over a 12-month period, based on the suit.Elliman's clawback sum also includes $1.1 million in apparent bonuses Parker earned over the years.Lastly, in an attempt that could have an industrywide impact, Parker argues that as a freelancer-most brokers are considered independent contractors-she should get the benefit of the doubt about financial promises made by her employer under the state's 2024 Freelance Isn't Free Act.Parker, who had a 10-person team at Elliman and her own office at 690 Washington St. in the West Village, finished in the top 25 of the city's most successful brokers in 2024 with $77 million in 25 resale deals as a sell-side agent, according to a ranking from The Real Deal.In her suit, Parker claims to have completed $10 billion in sales in her career.Parker's current Compass listings include a four-bedroom unit at West Village condo 150 Charles St. asking $17 million and a waterfront estate in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami listed at $135 million, her website shows.