Aon Expands Legal Action Against Howden US for Alleged Poaching and Theft of Brokers
A new broker has initiated legal action against Howden US and two former employees, alleging poaching and theft of trade secrets. This lawsuit, filed by Aon Risk Services Cos., is currently in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Last week, Aon took legal steps against former employees Anthony Rampersaud and Nancy Montalvo, along with Howden US. The company is seeking an injunction to prevent the alleged misuse of sensitive documents that Rampersaud, a managing director based in New York, is accused of sending to his home prior to his resignation. He, along with six other employees, reportedly left Aon on the same day to join Howden US, allegedly violating their employment contracts.
Montalvo is accused of forwarding a client list to her personal email. Aon has also noted that Rampersaud retained an Aon cellphone. The company’s investigation is ongoing, with Aon suggesting that their current findings may only represent “the tip of the iceberg.”
Aon claims that Howden US, which launched its U.S. retail broking business just a few months ago, is attempting to establish itself in the U.S. market by poaching employees and clients from established brokerages. The lawsuit alleges that Howden encourages disloyal employees to solicit entire teams to leave their positions and replicate their work for Howden.
In addition to Aon’s lawsuit, Howden US is also facing legal challenges from broker Marsh. Marsh has filed a suit against Howden US CEO Michael Parrish and several other former employees, as well as a separate suit against another group of former employees now at Howden US for breaching various employee contracts. Aon has mentioned that Howden US is also being sued by WTW.
Aon describes Howden US as having a “troubling and well-established pattern of unlawfully poaching competitors’ employees and misappropriating confidential information.” The company argues that this conduct warrants injunctive relief against the defendants. In previous cases, such relief has been granted to Marsh and WTW, with former employees ordered to return confidential information.
Rampersaud had been with Aon since 2022. According to the lawsuit, he allegedly met with Howden founder David Howden in London between late September and early October to coordinate the mass departure to Howden US. Shortly thereafter, Aon reported “irregular printing activity” involving documents containing its confidential and trade secret information. The lawsuit details Rampersaud’s online search histories, printing of shipping labels, and communications with employees via personal emails.
On November 25, Rampersaud and the six other employees resigned. When Aon attempted to retrieve devices, computers, badges, or boxes from Rampersaud’s and Montalvo’s residences earlier this month, not all items were surrendered.
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A new broker has initiated legal action against Howden US and two former employees, alleging poaching and theft of trade secrets. This lawsuit, filed by Aon Risk Services Cos., is currently in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Last week, Aon took legal steps against former employees Anthony Rampersaud and Nancy Montalvo, along with Howden US. The company is seeking an injunction to prevent the alleged misuse of sensitive documents that Rampersaud, a managing director based in New York, is accused of sending to his home prior to his resignation. He, along with six other employees, reportedly left Aon on the same day to join Howden US, allegedly violating their employment contracts.
Montalvo is accused of forwarding a client list to her personal email. Aon has also noted that Rampersaud retained an Aon cellphone. The company’s investigation is ongoing, with Aon suggesting that their current findings may only represent “the tip of the iceberg.”
Aon claims that Howden US, which launched its U.S. retail broking business just a few months ago, is attempting to establish itself in the U.S. market by poaching employees and clients from established brokerages. The lawsuit alleges that Howden encourages disloyal employees to solicit entire teams to leave their positions and replicate their work for Howden.
In addition to Aon’s lawsuit, Howden US is also facing legal challenges from broker Marsh. Marsh has filed a suit against Howden US CEO Michael Parrish and several other former employees, as well as a separate suit against another group of former employees now at Howden US for breaching various employee contracts. Aon has mentioned that Howden US is also being sued by WTW.
Aon describes Howden US as having a “troubling and well-established pattern of unlawfully poaching competitors’ employees and misappropriating confidential information.” The company argues that this conduct warrants injunctive relief against the defendants. In previous cases, such relief has been granted to Marsh and WTW, with former employees ordered to return confidential information.
Rampersaud had been with Aon since 2022. According to the lawsuit, he allegedly met with Howden founder David Howden in London between late September and early October to coordinate the mass departure to Howden US. Shortly thereafter, Aon reported “irregular printing activity” involving documents containing its confidential and trade secret information. The lawsuit details Rampersaud’s online search histories, printing of shipping labels, and communications with employees via personal emails.
On November 25, Rampersaud and the six other employees resigned. When Aon attempted to retrieve devices, computers, badges, or boxes from Rampersaud’s and Montalvo’s residences earlier this month, not all items were surrendered.
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