WTW unit sues Alliant, former exec, broker over client poaching

Willis Towers Watson Northeast Inc. said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in New Haven, Connecticut, that a former senior vice president and broker breached their employment agreements when they resigned without notice to join Alliant Insurance Services Inc. and later poached three clients.

The Hartford, Connecticut-based subsidiary of Willis Towers Watson PLC said in Willis Towers Watson Northeast Inc v. Scott Davis et al. that the clients included OCS Group Holdings Inc., the parent company of Planet Hollywood, and the Ladies Professional Golf Association, and resulted in $634,000 of lost revenue.

The brokerage said Alliant tortiously interfered with employment agreements signed by Scott Davis and Erin Schwamb, both of whom left WTW NE in August. Newport Beach, California-based Alliant announced in September that it hired Mr. Davis as a senior vice president within its Alliant Americas division.

Mr. Davis signed an employment agreement in April 2013 that prohibited him from directly and indirectly soliciting clients for two years after his resignation and required him to provide at least 15 days’ notice before resigning. Ms. Schwamb worked for Mr. Davis and signed a similar employment agreement in March, court records show.

After Mr. Davis and Ms. Schwamb resigned without notice from WTW NE,  the brokerage received broker of record letters from three clients in October appointing Alliant as their new broker, court records show.

WTW had no comment on the filing.

Representatives for Alliant and the brokers did not respond to requests for comment.