In a fierce battle for talent in the insurance industry, major global brokers Marsh, Aon, and Howden are embroiled in a series of lawsuits. These cases, stretching from New York to London, involve accusations of "unlawful recruitment raids" aimed at stealing each other’s employees and clients.
The latest legal action comes from Marsh USA, which has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan against four of its former senior executives from Florida. The complaint claims that these executives—Michael Parrish, Giselle Lugones, Robert Lynn, and Julie Layton—secretly collaborated with Howden to establish its U.S. operations. This move reportedly involved the mass departure of over 100 employees from Marsh.
According to the lawsuit, the executives worked covertly for months while still being paid by Marsh to recruit their colleagues to join Howden. The complaint highlights that this wave of resignations began on July 21, leading to immediate client losses for Marsh. The suit alleges that at least eight significant Marsh clients have moved to Howden, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue.
Howden has not publicly commented on the lawsuit, but this is not the first time it has faced legal challenges over mass hiring practices. Two years ago, Marsh’s reinsurance division, Guy Carpenter, filed a similar suit in London after Howden hired more than 30 of its employees, including senior leaders. That case was settled out of court, but Howden admitted to unlawful recruitment practices during the process.
In another twist, Marsh has also directed its legal efforts toward Aon. In April 2025, Marsh accused Aon of using insider information from Robert McDonough, a former head of Marsh’s surety practice, to facilitate the rapid departure of 20 employees. The lawsuit claims McDonough shared confidential information and disrupted Marsh’s recruitment efforts.
Meanwhile, Aon is also taking legal action. Last year, it filed a suit against Howden and several former Aon employees over alleged coordinated employee theft. This case has raised questions about jurisdiction, particularly concerning Brazilian employees, as non-compete agreements are not enforceable there.
The backdrop of these legal battles includes Howden’s ambitious plans for growth. Earlier this year, it was close to finalizing a $10 billion acquisition of U.S. broker Risk Strategies, which would have significantly boosted its market position. However, that deal fell through, pushing Howden to ramp up its hiring efforts.
Despite these legal issues, Howden has reported strong financial results, with a 23% increase in adjusted revenue for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024. However, the ongoing lawsuits create a complicated landscape for the company, with various legal and regulatory challenges looming.
As the insurance sector watches these developments, the lines between aggressive recruitment and legal disputes continue to blur, leaving many wondering what the future holds for these major players.