Copper Beech Farm
Greenwich, Connecticut
$150M
$138.8M
August 2, 2023
Approx 6 Months
This transaction did not rely on the market to find its outcome. It was directed. From positioning... to introduction... to negotiation. Handled with clarity, discipline, and control throughout. This is the standard of a Sotheby's International Realty Market Leader. Nikki Field and Leslie McElwreath directed the positioning, introduction, and management of the property from the outset, and the outcome reflects that.
LESLIE MCELWREATH
Nikki Field represented the seller, bringing a long-standing relationship and global buyer access developed over decades. Recognizing the importance of local expertise at this level, Leslie McElwreath led execution within the Greenwich market. From the beginning, roles were clear: Global reach remained active. Local authority guided the process. Market Leaders operated across both, with a single, coordinated strategy.
Copper Beech was introduced in a controlled sequence. An initial private offering allowed for pricing feedback and refinement. Once aligned, the public launch was executed with precision. Press, including Wall Street Journal, was used to establish the property at the highest level, not to generate broad exposure. Market Leaders controlled how the opportunity was presented, and where it was placed. Within days of launch, a qualified international buyer emerged, arriving for a first showing on February 21... Less than two weeks from introduction to engagement.
The transaction required coordination across multiple markets and a prolonged negotiation process. Leslie McElwreath led locally, managing relationships, diligence, and progression. Nikki Field remained engaged throughout, directing negotiation strategy and maintaining alignment with the seller. The negotiation was managed jointly, with both agents actively directing terms, timing, and progression throughout an extended and complex process.
The property closed at $138.8M.
A transaction of this scale... completed within months.
Michael Dreyfus and Hillary Ryan approached this listing by building demand before it reached the market.
3075 Dry Creek Road
Napa Valley, CA
$17.95M
This listing was not prepared for the market. It was prepared for the buyer. That is the advantage of working with Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders... the ability to position a property within demand before it reaches the market.
MICHAEL DREYFUS
This listing was approached with a clear understanding of where demand originates. Napa Valley is not an isolated market. Its buyer base is directly tied to Silicon Valley. That relationship was established, and the structure reflected it. The property was introduced directly into that market ahead of its public release.
Buyer flow between Silicon Valley and Napa Valley is strong, but it’s not exclusive. Napa Valley competes with markets such as Lake Tahoe for the same buyer, often evaluating multiple residences at once. The property was placed directly into that decision set, before those choices were made.
The property was previously brought to market at a higher price point, and conditions shifted. The reset required more than a price adjustment. It required repositioning. The buyer profile had shifted, and the strategy was reset to align with current demand. Before going live, the focus was on direct exposure.
Michael Dreyfus introduced the property into his Silicon Valley network:
Not all buyers were actively searching. Many high value transactions occurred when a buyer recognized an opportunity, not when they were looking for one. The strategy accounted for that. Exposure was not limited to listing platforms. The property was introduced into environments where decisions were already being made. The advantage sat there. Not in visibility... but in access to buyers before they entered the market.
Timing mattered. Every property has a moment when it enters the market. The objective was to enter with momentum already in place.
Pre-listing exposure established:
$32,250,000
A once-in-a-generation estate, Sotto Il Monte selected three Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders across the state of California to represent the historic Montecito property—a trifecta that offered the unique ability to reach key feeder markets in a way no other agents could match. Led by Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders in Los Angeles, Montecito and Palo Alto—each leading agents in their respective markets—the team successfully presented multiple offers within the first two weeks on market by collectively leveraging cross-marketing opportunities, market insight and agent connections within Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders.
$3,100,000 - $4,500,000
The Luxus Group, an esteemed real estate private equity firm, engaged Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders to sell an international collection of properties. Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders—from New York to New Mexico to Hawaii—unified to offer The Luxus Group a full-service sales campaign that included dynamic, multi-channel marketing and reporting. Commencing Thanksgiving, Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders successfully sold and closed all properties by Memorial Day—a tremendous feat that showcased the unique ability of Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders to represent a widespread portfolio with the same industry-leading representation, no matter the location.
$35,000,000
Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders executed a comprehensive asset audit for the owner of The St. Regis Toronto’s Penthouse. Through identifying top feeder markets, which included New York, Palo Alto, Seattle and Beverly Hills, Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders tapped members in each key area to provide insight, analytics and custom marketing plans that resulted in a recommended valuation of $35,000,000 for the distinguished property. This consultative audit included an actionable sales and marketing plan that tailored recommendations in each key feeder market in an unprecedented fashion.
Sotheby's Market Leaders case studies highlight record-setting transactions across North America, including the 138.8 million dollar sale of Copper Beech Farm in Greenwich and multi-market portfolio campaigns. By combining targeted pre-market positioning with cross-regional buyer ecosystems, our advisors consistently achieve benchmark valuations for landmark luxury estates.
| Property / Asset | Market Location | Transaction Value | Lead Market Leaders | Strategic Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Beech Farm | Greenwich, Connecticut | $138,800,000 Closed | Nikki Field & Leslie McElwreath | Controlled positioning and private negotiation directing historic sale in six months |
| Sotto Il Monte | Montecito, California | $32,250,000 Closed | California Market Leaders Alliance | Tri-regional feeder network generating multiple offers within two weeks of launch |
| 3075 Dry Creek Road | Napa Valley, California | $17,950,000 List Price | Michael Dreyfus & Hillary Ryan | Pre-market targeted placement inside an established qualified buyer ecosystem |
| The Luxus Group Portfolio | Multi-Market (US & Global) | $3,100,000 to $4,500,000 | National Advisory Syndicate | Synchronized private equity portfolio sale closed from Thanksgiving to Memorial Day |
| The St. Regis Penthouse | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | $35,000,000 Valuation | Cross-Border Feeder Network | Consultative asset audit identifying feeder wealth in New York, Palo Alto, and Seattle |
Trophy estates require deliberate positioning and direct introduction to proven capital pools. Connect with our advisory leadership for a confidential consultation.
Exceptional properties do not find their outcomes through passive exposure or traditional marketing channels. When representing generational holdings, our members direct every phase of the process, establishing clear narrative framing, pricing strategy, and targeted access to qualified capital.
The historic sale of Copper Beech Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut stands as a prime example of this disciplined methodology. Listed at 150 million dollars and closed at 138.8 million dollars within six months, the transaction was led by Nikki Field of New York and Leslie McElwreath of Greenwich. The result was not left to market chance; it was cultivated through structured positioning and private negotiation, remaining one of the highest residential sales ever recorded in the United States.
Similarly, in Napa Valley, Michael Dreyfus and Hillary Ryan approached the 17.95 million dollar listing of 3075 Dry Creek Road by generating interest before formal debut. By placing the property directly within established buyer ecosystems, our advisors generated qualified demand prior to public exposure, establishing the benchmark for pre-market execution.
Representing a 32.25 million dollar historic estate, the ownership of Sotto Il Monte selected a collaborative trifecta of Market Leaders across Los Angeles, Montecito, and Palo Alto. By coordinating marketing outreach across Northern and Southern California wealth corridors, the team generated multiple competing offers within the first two weeks on market, proving the efficiency of unified statewide representation.
When real estate private equity firm The Luxus Group required disposition of an international luxury collection valued between 3.1 million and 4.5 million dollars per asset, Market Leaders from New York to New Mexico and Hawaii unified their campaigns. Commencing at Thanksgiving, the team successfully liquidated and closed all portfolio properties by Memorial Day, demonstrating cohesive cross-border execution.
For the 35 million dollar penthouse atop The St. Regis Toronto, our collective executed an in-depth consultative asset audit. By identifying primary feeder markets in New York, Palo Alto, Seattle, and Beverly Hills, members in each respective city formulated data-backed buyer profiles, resulting in a customized valuation and cross-border launch roadmap.
Beyond conventional public listings, our network operates an internal clearinghouse for discreet transactions. By testing pricing structures and gauging private interest among qualified buyers within our collective rolodex, sellers receive actionable market intelligence while preserving total discretion.
Every marquee asset demands a tailored narrative that communicates provenance, architecture, and lifestyle value. Our advisors avoid standardized marketing templates, crafting bespoke presentation strategies that resonate with family offices, private wealth managers, and institutional buyers across major global capitals.
Negotiating eight and nine-figure property sales requires deep commercial sophistication and absolute confidentiality. Our advisors maintain strict control over showing protocols, buyer qualification vetting, and contractual terms, ensuring our clients achieve optimal pricing with zero compromise to personal privacy.
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Sotheby's International Realty Market Leaders
Representing the highest echelon of luxury residential advisory globally, our collective directs landmark sales through disciplined positioning, private negotiation, and cross-border collaboration.
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Copper Beech Farm closed on August 2, 2023, for 138.8 million dollars, having been listed at 150 million dollars. Represented by Market Leaders Nikki Field and Leslie McElwreath, the transaction took approximately six months and stands as one of the highest residential real estate sales in United States history.
Pre-market placement involves positioning a property directly within private buyer ecosystems rather than broadcasting to the general market. As demonstrated by Michael Dreyfus and Hillary Ryan on Dry Creek Road in Napa Valley, targeted placement allows advisors to build qualified demand, test pricing resilience, and identify motivated purchasers prior to public syndication.
As demonstrated in the 32.25 million dollar sale of Sotto Il Monte in Montecito, pairing local listing leadership with partners in top feeder markets like Los Angeles and Palo Alto allows the team to capture affluent buyers at the point of capital origin. This multi-region synergy generated multiple competing offers within two weeks of launch.
Yes. In the case of private equity firm The Luxus Group, our network coordinated simultaneous sales campaigns across multiple states and international territories. By synchronizing marketing schedules and reporting, the team liquidated the entire property portfolio between Thanksgiving and Memorial Day.
A consultative audit, such as the one executed for the 35 million dollar penthouse at The St. Regis Toronto, analyzes feeder wealth corridors, demographic migrations, and competing regional inventory. Advisors in relevant markets provide localized data and bespoke marketing plans that establish accurate valuation and actionable launch roadmaps.
Whether representing a legacy compound, managing an estate portfolio, or acquiring trophy property, partner with the industry's most disciplined luxury advisory network.