Luxury Gold Coast realtor accuses ‘superwoman’ ex-agent of stealing his clients

Two high-flying real estate agents are slugging it out in court in a bitter turf war over some of the Gold Coast’s most expensive real estate.

Two high-flying Gold Coast real estate agents are slugging it out in court in a bitter turf war over some of the Glitter Strip’s most expensive real estate.

Prestige property realtor Amir Mian has launched legal action against one of his ex-agents, Karen Pirie, alleging she stole his clients, marketing material and sales bragging rights when she left the firm in May to join a rival agency.

Mr Mian, who claims Amir Prestige is one of the only agencies in Queensland to have sold five $20m-plus properties in the past two years, wants an urgent court injunction restraining Ms Pirie from “diverting” his existing or prospective clients or using “confidential information” from his database.

He is also demanding a record of profits from “diverted” clients as well as damages “for breach of co-agency agreement”.

Karen Pirie was named last month as one of Queensland’s top 60 “superwomen of real estate” after amassing more than $90m in sales in 2021-22. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Ms Pirie, named last month as one of Queensland’s top 60 “superwomen of real estate” after amassing more than $90m in sales in 2021-22, has denied the allegations and claims she is owed more than $150,000 in commissions by Amir Prestige.

In a court affidavit, Mr Mian said his agency was “known on the Gold Coast and northern NSW for selling high-end, luxury properties”.

He said he was named Australia’s No. 1 real estate agent in 2010 and Amir Prestige had been recognised as one of the country’s top agencies.

“When (Ms Pirie) joined Amir Prestige, she had very little profile in the industry and no known high-end sales,” he stated in court papers.

Mr Mian said Ms Pirie had joined his agency in November 2020 as an independent contractor in a joint agency agreement through her company Agence Pty Ltd.

But the agreement was terminated in May this year and Ms Pirie went to work for Harcourts Coastal.

“Harcourts Coastal is not known for mostly selling high-end or luxury properties on the Gold Coast whereas Amir Prestige is,” Mr Mian said in his affidavit.

Principal Amir Mian of Amir Prestige on a jet ski to help sell a blue-chip vacant block in Paradise Waters.

“Amir Prestige in the last 2 years have sold 5 residential properties over $20m making it one of the only agencies to achieve this milestone in the last 3 years.”

Mr Mian alleged that Ms Pirie had taken “confidential” and “valuable” information from his agency when she left to join Harcourts Coastal, including client records.

He alleged that she had “solicited” the sellers of properties, including a prime riverfront block at Paradise Waters to cancel listings with his agency and sign with Harcourts.

He said Ms Pirie had refused to return and cease using Amir Prestige’s “confidential information” and intellectual property, including promotional photos of her.

Amir Mian says Amir Prestige is one of the only agencies in Queensland to have sold five $20m-plus properties in the past two years.

Ms Pirie’s solicitors, in a letter to Mr Mian’s lawyers filed as part of the court claim, denied the allegations and said she was an independent contractor who had “no obligations to Amir Prestige under the (Corporations) Act”.

“Your client’s allegation that our client has solicited existing clients of Amir Prestige and ‘coerced’ them to sign exclusive agency agreements with Harcourts is untrue. Our client did no such thing,” Ms Pirie’s lawyers said.

They also denied allegations she had made “untrue, defamatory and injurious remark”’ about Mr Mian and said she was the “innocent victim” of slurs from his agency.

The injunction hearing is due to be heard next week in the District Court.

Mr Mian and Ms Pirie both declined to comment when contacted by the Sunday Mail.