William Pierce joins ONE Sotheby’s after “disaffiliation” from Coldwell

After a heated game of “he said, she said,” it appears that William P.D. Pierce, once a top producer at Coldwell Banker, has indeed joined ONE Sotheby’s as a luxury agent. But for a brief and confusing period, it was unclear whether Pierce was, in fact, hired.

The Realtor shouted the news of his new position from the rooftops last Wednesday, announcing it on various social media accounts and websites. While a ONE Sotheby’s spokesperson initially confirmed that same day that Pierce had joined the firm, later that afternoon the same spokesperson told The Real Deal that the hire was “no longer happening.” This was news to Pierce when he was contacted by TRD — he insisted that he had been hired.

By the evening, the brokerage had mysteriously changed its tune, telling TRD that Pierce had joined the firm and that “anything else” was “an internal miscommunication on the part of ONE Sotheby’s.”

The luxury broker started his real estate career in 2005 with Coldwell Banker’s Weston branch, later moving to the company’s Miami Beach office, according to a bio provided to TRD. Pierce credits Donald Trump in the bio for kickstarting his career in real estate after meeting him at the Winter Fest Boat Parade in 2001.

Pierce has worked with a number of high-end and high-profile properties in South Florida, including the former Miami Beach mansion of Enrique Iglesias, which he listed for $25 million in February. He was ranked as Coldwell Banker’s top agent in 2013 and 2014.

In 2014, he listed La Brisa, a 6.9-acre estate in Coconut Grove, for $65 million. Pierce lost that listing to Nelson Gonzalez of EWM. He also made headlines with the $139 million listing of the Le Palais Royal estate in Hillsboro Beach. Pierce lost the listing to ONE Sotheby’s founder and CEO Mayi de la Vega, who now has it on the market for $159 million.

Pierce has also been in the news regarding his personal life. After he was charged in recent months with domestic violence against his now-ex-wife as well as a former girlfriend, he left Coldwell Banker. According to Jose Lambiet’s GossipExtra column, he was fired from the firm. Coldwell Banker’s Nancy Corey, Miami Beach branch manager, told TRD: “We don’t discuss the disaffiliation of an agent.”

ONE Sotheby’s Daniel de la Vega declined to speak with TRD about Pierce, responding only via email through a spokesperson. On the domestic violence charges, he said, “ONE Sotheby’s International Realty does not take domestic violence allegations lightly. The firm is looking into this.” De la Vega added that he hired Pierce because “William is a luxury specialist in the South Florida real estate market.” He said Pierce will focus on both new development and luxury homes.

Charges remain pending against Pierce, whose trial for domestic violence against his now-ex-wife Penelope Pierce is set for February 17, records show. And a hearing is scheduled for later this month related to his former girlfriend. In September 2013, Pierce was charged with battery on a passenger of a taxi cab in a parking dispute in South Beach, according to a police report obtained by TRD. Pierce agreed to undergo a pretrial diversion and anger management program, according to state attorney documents.