A Hamptons real estate fight is landing in Suffolk County Supreme Court, where former Bespoke Real Estate broker Ashley McDermott claims her career was derailed after she disclosed she was pregnant. In a new lawsuit, McDermott accuses Bespoke, its affiliate Parallel and founder Cody Vichinsky of pregnancy and sex discrimination, alleging the company sidelined, demoted and penalized her in ways that cost her salary and commission income. She is seeking damages for lost wages and long-term career harm.
According to the complaint, detailed by The Real Deal, McDermott joined Bespoke in 2018 and earned a promotion to its “Corporate Team” in January 2024. That year, she brought in roughly $157,000 in total compensation, including more than $82,000 in commissions. The filing says she became pregnant in December 2024 and told Vichinsky on April 9, 2025. After that conversation, the suit alleges, she was told she could not remain on the Corporate Team and was replaced by a non-pregnant male colleague.
McDermott claims Bespoke then offered her a property-management position that reduced her salary by $10,000 and eliminated her commission opportunities. The lawsuit further alleges that on May 19, 2025, a finance vice president deleted her client contacts and correspondence from her work laptop and phone. McDermott says she declined the new role and left Bespoke in late May 2025, later taking a position with broker Terry Cohen in early June.
Allegations Add to Bespoke’s Growing Legal Headache
McDermott’s claims arrive on top of a series of other disputes involving Bespoke and its leadership, including past accusations of racial slurs and unpaid commissions by former employees. As outlined by Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C., the firm and its founders have previously been the subject of complaints and a Division of Human Rights investigation that resulted in a probable-cause finding in an earlier discrimination case. That backdrop frames McDermott’s lawsuit as part of a broader pattern of friction between current and former staff and the brokerage’s top brass.
What New York Law Says About Pregnancy at Work
Under New York law, employers are barred from changing the terms or conditions of someone’s job because they are pregnant and must provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions. As explained by New York State, companies cannot lawfully demote workers, cut pay or deny needed accommodations on the basis of pregnancy. Employees who believe their rights have been violated can file complaints with the Division of Human Rights.
Bespoke Denies Claims and Prepares to Fight
In a statement, Bespoke, Parallel and Vichinsky said they “categorically deny the allegations” in McDermott’s lawsuit and plan to address the case through the courts rather than in public back-and-forths. Vichinsky, who launched Bespoke in 2014, was ranked the top-selling Hamptons broker in 2025 with about $443 million in reported sales volume. As reported by The Real Deal, neither side has offered additional detailed comment beyond those initial statements.
What Happens Next in Court
The lawsuit will move forward in Suffolk County Supreme Court, where McDermott seeks back pay, front pay, interest on lost wages and commissions, and compensatory damages, according to the filing. The next phase is likely to involve document exchanges and testimony during discovery, with any hearings, motions or potential settlements to show up on the public docket in the months ahead.
