MacBook Pro locked in Remote Management after factory reset, no response from previous owner

Hello everyone,

I’m hoping someone here can help me or point me in the right direction.

About five years ago, I bought a second-hand MacBook Pro from a former employee of a company in Sydney. At the time of purchase, I had no idea the device was enrolled in the company’s Remote Management (MDM) system, and the seller never mentioned this.

The issue only became apparent recently, after I performed a factory reset because I wanted to sell the laptop. Now, the MacBook is completely locked and unusable because it’s still managed remotely by the original company.

I have tried contacting the company multiple times via email, LinkedIn, and their contact forms, but I have not received any response.

I have photos of the lock screen and the serial number to prove ownership, but I’m stuck because only the company’s IT department can remove the device from the MDM system.

My question is: given that it’s been five years and I cannot reach the company, is there anything Apple Support can do to help in this situation?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

— Marek