J
eremy Wacksman took the stand in the Compass v. Zillow preliminary injunction hearing, offering a calm counterpoint to Compass CEO Robert Reffkin’s fiery testimony. He denied any conspiracy, emphasized Zillow’s commitment to transparency, and clarified the company’s stance on listing access standards (LAS).

    **Key takeaways**

    - **Purpose of LAS** – Wacksman explained that Zillow’s listing standards were designed to promote transparency and prevent the pressure that drives brokerages to create private listing networks (PLNs). He said the goal was to “stop the PLNs” by ensuring that no single actor could hold inventory back, thereby reducing the incentive for others to do the same.

    - **Competition and partnership** – When asked who Zillow sees as competitors, Wacksman named technology‑focused home‑search sites such as Realtor.com, Redfin.com, and Homes.com. He stressed that Compass is not a competitor but a partner: “We provide the listings, and they use our software to manage them.” He noted that tens of thousands of Compass agents rely on Zillow’s tools.

    - **Redfin relationship** – Wacksman acknowledged regular communication with Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman from March to May about the Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP) and LAS. He said Kelman was briefed on LAS on April 9, the day before Zillow announced the new standards, and that Redfin later released its own listing standards on April 14. Wacksman denied any collusion, stating he was the primary contact for Redfin, Realtor.com, and Anywhere and that he had briefed all parties on April 9.

    - **Conspiracy allegations** – Compass attorney Kenneth Dintzer pressed Wacksman on alleged phone calls and texts with Kelman that could suggest a conspiracy. Wacksman admitted the conversations but said they were “culturally aligned” on the CCP and that no paper trail was left intentionally. He clarified that he did not take notes during those calls and that no other executives were present.

    - **Boycott claim** – During opening statements, Compass lawyers alleged that Zillow and Redfin had agreed to boycott Compass listings. Wacksman denied this, noting that Zillow hosts the majority of Compass listings and that the company is not engaged in any boycott.

    - **Timing of LAS** – Wacksman explained that Zillow waited for the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) decision on the CCP before rolling out LAS. He said the standards were developed to address industry questions after NAR’s updates and to keep the marketplace transparent. Although Zillow did not immediately release a full FAQ, it moved forward to start an education campaign, anticipating that most agents would choose broad public marketing.

    In summary, Wacksman’s testimony framed Zillow’s actions as a pursuit of transparency and partnership rather than a hostile strategy against Compass. He denied any collusion with Redfin, clarified the purpose of LAS, and positioned Zillow as a collaborator with brokerages rather than a competitor. The judge will decide in the coming weeks whether Zillow can continue to block Compass’s private exclusive listings on its platform.