One of the Hamptons’ biggest home sales of 2025 has spiraled into a courtroom fight over nearly $1 million in brokerage fees.
Sotheby’s International Realty has sued seller Nancy Silverman and her holding company, alleging they failed to pay an $840,000 commission tied to the $56 million sale of the oceanfront estate at 1010 Meadow Lane in tony Southampton.
The luxury brokerage claims its agent, Harald Grant, was instrumental in securing and preserving the transaction with buyer Roger Barnett, the CEO of nutrition company Shaklee, only to be left empty-handed when the deal closed.
According to court filings, first obtained by the Real Deal, Grant began marketing the property in May 2025 and later entered into an exclusive listing agreement with Silverman that entitled Sotheby’s to a 1.5% commission through January 2026.
The eventual purchaser was introduced through Bespoke Real Estate co-founder Cody Vichinsky, who alerted Grant to Barnett’s interest in the property during the summer. While Barnett later communicated directly with Silverman, Sotheby’s argues Grant remained deeply involved in shepherding the sale to completion.
At one point, tensions escalated when Silverman became frustrated with the pace of negotiations and instructed Grant to re-list the property and pursue other buyers, according to the complaint.
“I counseled Ms. Silverman that Mr. Barnett was likely a good prospective purchaser for the Property who she should not lose in haste,” Grant wrote in an affirmation filed with the court.
“I advised Mr. Barnett that the property would be back on the market if he did not agree to Ms. Silverman’s demands. As a result of my conversation with him, Mr. Barnett agreed to all of Ms. Silverman’s demands, and the transaction was able to move forward again.”
Grant contends his efforts not only kept the sale from collapsing but also generated additional value for the seller by securing another $1 million for furniture and fixtures included in the transaction.
Ownership ultimately transferred in August to entities tied to Barnett, according to the lawsuit. Sotheby’s maintains that despite the successful closing, Silverman refused to pay the brokerage for its work.
Bespoke Real Estate
The dispute centers on one of the most notable Hamptons transactions of 2025. The Meadow Lane estate ranked sixth among the year’s priciest East End deals.
Barnett and his wife, attorney and journalist Sloan Barnett, have built a sizable luxury real estate portfolio in recent years. In 2021, the couple paid $38 million for a waterfront Miami residence. Earlier this year, they sold another waterfront property in Coconut Grove for $71.9 million, more than 60% above what they paid for it.
Sotheby’s filed its complaint in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan. Silverman and her LLC have retained legal counsel and are seeking dismissal of the case.
Representatives for both sides did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
