CRE Firms and Ethical Reputations

So I am currently going through the networking process for my transition into CRE (trying to acquisitions at a REPE firm). I recently met with a founder/CEO of a large investment & development fund in the Southeast to get his insights and advice and one thing that he mentioned that stuck out to me was that I should make sure to associate myself with ethical people/firms. I asked a follow-up question but he didn't seem to want to elaborate too much on that outside of the fact that there are apparently firms/people that are known in the industry for being unethical.

I was hoping someone could elaborate on what he might have been referring to when he says unethical. Are there larger firms that carry a bad reputation for this and maybe specifically in the Southeast if anyone knows?

Thanks!