Former DOJ Antitrust Leader, Ethan Glass, Joins Compass as Chief Legal Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Compass (NYSE:COMP), America's largest residential real estate brokerage, has appointed Ethan Glass as Chief Legal Officer. Glass brings significant antitrust expertise from his previous roles at the U.S. Department of Justice and as Head of Global Antitrust and Competition Practice at Cooley LLP.

The appointment emphasizes Compass' stance against restrictive MLS and third-party platform practices. Glass previously led DOJ teams investigating MLS organizations for anticompetitive conduct and represented the National Association of Realtors. At Cooley LLP, he led Compass' lawsuit against Northwest MLS, advocating for homeowners' marketing rights in Washington State.

Positive

• Appointment of former DOJ antitrust leader strengthens legal expertise
• Strategic hire aligns with company's mission to challenge restrictive industry practices
• Addition of experienced leader in real estate industry legal matters

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – COMP

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On the day this news was published, COMP declined 0.97%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

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Appointment Underscores Compass' Deepening Commitment to Seller Choice

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Compass, Inc. (NYSE: COMP), the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States and leading tech-enabled real estate services company, announced the appointment of Ethan Glass as Chief Legal Officer. Glass brings decades of experience in antitrust litigation, previously leading teams in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that investigated and sued Multiple Listing Service (MLS) organizations for anticompetitive conduct. He most recently served as Head of the Global Antitrust and Competition Practice at Cooley LLP, one of the leading technology law firms in the country. His appointment reinforces Compass' commitment to protecting seller choice, challenging coercive industry practices, and empowering agents to market their clients' homes without restrictions from MLSs and third-party platforms like Zillow, whose business models are based on altering and monetizing listings at the expense of homeowners and their agents.

"At Compass, we firmly believe agents should not be fined by MLSs or banned by Zillow for marketing listings off their platforms and that no agent should be told by an MLS or Zillow how they must work with their clients," said Compass Founder and CEO Robert Reffkin. "Bringing Ethan Glass on board as our Chief Legal Officer reflects our unwavering commitment to seller choice and challenging these restrictive practices that limit when, where, and how homeowners can market their homes."

Glass brings decades of experience leading antitrust matters in the real estate industry, making him one of the few attorneys in the country who fully understands the intricate complexities of MLS regulations and how platform policies are used to control real estate agents and limit seller choice.

At the DOJ, he was responsible for directing teams that investigated and litigated against MLS organizations for engaging in anticompetitive practices. In private practice, he represented the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in its defense against DOJ scrutiny and private antitrust lawsuits.

While at Cooley LLP, Glass led Compass' lawsuit against Northwest MLS (NWMLS), a case aimed at restoring homeowners' rights to decide how their homes are marketed in Washington State.

"I'm honored to join Compass, a company committed to empowering agents and ensuring homeowners retain control over how their properties are marketed," said Glass. "This is a pivotal moment for the real estate industry, and I am excited to provide my expertise to a company that is so clearly aligned with supporting both its agents and the homeowners they serve."

Throughout his career, Glass has been at the forefront of some of the most consequential legal battles involving antitrust and industry policies, MLS governance, listing data access, brokerage competition, and platform accountability. He has a rare insight into how the residential real estate industry is organized, how participants in that industry compete, and how rules and regulations impact that competition.

About Compass

Compass is a leading tech-enabled real estate services company that includes the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume. Founded in 2012 and based in New York City, Compass provides an end-to-end platform that empowers its residential real estate agents at its owned-brokerage to deliver exceptional service to seller and buyer clients. The platform includes an integrated suite of cloud-based software for customer relationship management, marketing, client service, brokerage services, and other critical functionality, all custom-built for the real estate industry. Compass agents utilize the platform to grow their business, save time, and manage their business more efficiently. The Compass network includes Christie's International Real Estate, the world's premier global luxury real estate brand with over 100 independently owned brokerage Affiliates in 50 countries and territories. For more information on how Compass empowers real estate agents, one of the largest groups of small business owners, please visit www.compass.com.

Media Contact:

Devin Daly Huerta

devin.daly@compass.com

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SOURCE COMPASS

FAQ

Who is Ethan Glass and what is his new role at Compass (NYSE:COMP)?

Ethan Glass is the new Chief Legal Officer at Compass. He previously led antitrust teams at the DOJ and served as Head of Global Antitrust and Competition Practice at Cooley LLP.

What is Ethan Glass's experience in the real estate industry?

Glass has decades of experience in real estate antitrust matters, including leading DOJ teams investigating MLS organizations, representing the National Association of Realtors, and leading Compass' lawsuit against Northwest MLS.

Why did Compass (NYSE:COMP) appoint Ethan Glass as Chief Legal Officer?

Compass appointed Glass to reinforce their commitment to protecting seller choice and challenging restrictive practices by MLSs and third-party platforms that limit how homeowners can market their homes.

What was Ethan Glass's role in the Department of Justice?

At the DOJ, Glass led teams that investigated and litigated against MLS organizations for engaging in anticompetitive practices.