Compass sues REMAX President Alex Vidal 

Compass this week launched a legal battle against REMAX President Alex Vidal, alleging that his move to the franchise giant from his former firm, ERA Real Estate, violated non-compete agreements. Inman was first to report the news.

The lawsuit was filed by Compass and ERA on Oct. 19 in the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Compass declined to comment on the case. Real Estate News has reached out to REMAX and Real REMAX Group for comment and will update this story with any response.

What Compass, ERA allege: By signing a Restrictive Covenant Agreement in 2022, 2024 and again in 2025, Vidal agreed to "a one-year non-competition covenant," "a two-year non-solicitation covenant" and "a perpetual non-disclosure and non-use covenant," according to a copy of the filing reviewed by Real Estate News.

But "Through counsel, Vidal has refused to comply with the Non-Competition Covenant," the filing alleges.

In his previous role as ERA's president, Vidal helped the firm navigate a post-merger environment as it and other Anywhere Real Estate brands moved under the Compass International Holdings banner. During that early 2026 transition, the filing says he "was privy to Plaintiffs' most sensitive competitive Information," including franchise agreements, ERA broker-owner relationship details, post-merger integration strategies and the rollout of Compass' Home Platform, which launched over the summer.

Now, Vidal is working at a company with a franchise model "virtually identical to ERA's," the filing states.

Earlier lawsuit attempted in Texas: Compass' legal team "wrote to Vidal reminding him of his obligations under the RCAs" before his new role at REMAX was publicly announced and also "wrote to RE/MAX's General Counsel putting RE/MAX on notice of Vidal's contractual restrictions," according to the filing.

In response, Vidal communicated through his legal representative that "the Non-Competition Covenant is unenforceable and that he does not possess any of Plaintiffs' Confidential Information," it adds.

The filing notes that Compass and ERA previously filed suit against Vidal last month in Texas, where Vidal lives, but the court ruled that Delaware was the "appropriate venue" for the legal fight and dismissed the case.

What the plaintiffs want: Compass and ERA are asking for the non-compete terms of the agreements to be enforced and for preliminary and permanent injunctions to block Vidal "from serving as President of, or otherwise providing services to, RE/MAX or any other Competing Business in violation of the Non-Competition Covenant for a one year period."

Lawsuit comes weeks after Vidal's move to REMAX: Shortly after The Real Brokerage's acquisition of REMAX Holdings closed, the combined company announced that Vidal would be taking the helm of REMAX as president. Vidal previously led ERA as president, a role he held for over three years.

ERA operated as an Anywhere Real Estate brand up until the company's acquisition by Compass. ERA, which appointed a new president shortly after Vidal's leadership role at REMAX was announced, now operates under parent company Compass International Holdings.

In a Sept. 1 statement about his new position, Vidal said he believes REMAX "has an incredible story to tell" and declared that the company would move forward "with purpose."

"I'm ready to remind the industry exactly what REMAX brings to real estate," he said.