G
uy Gal's white label brokerage firm Side is suing Oren and Tal Alexander's Official Partners, alleging breach of contract and failure to repay a loan provided by Side. The dispute centers on two agreements signed in August 2022 when the top brokers left Douglas Elliman to start their new firm. In April, Side and Official amended the note, with the Alexanders as guarantors. Side is seeking repayment in millions, according to sources.

    The relationship between Side and Official took a turn in June after allegations of rape and sexual assault against Oren Alexander surfaced. Tal Alexander was later sued. The lawsuit claims Oren defaulted on the note on June 12 and Tal on June 25. Official cut ties with the Alexanders, but they allegedly reneged on promises to exit the firm.

    Side's complaint alleges that in separate phone calls, both brothers informed CEO Gal of their departure and agreed to allow Side to drop their licenses. In mid-July, Side met with the Alexanders and other co-founders to inform them of default under the note. The Alexanders began refusing payments by the end of July and demanded a plan for restoring their roles at Official.

    The lawsuit claims the brothers threatened legal action against remaining co-founders if they voted to oust them from the firm. After negotiations soured, the other co-founders pulled out, allowing the Alexanders to take full control of Official Partners in August. "Official Partners has never missed a payment," said James Cinque on behalf of the Alexanders. "This lawsuit is an incredibly greedy attempt by Side to take over the business of Official Partners."

    Many agents have left Official in recent months, including heavy hitters like Isaac Lustgarten and Jared Schwadron. The agent exodus sapped Official's West Coast presence, with no agents listed on their website.