Willis Towers Watson sues Lockton after 18 brokers quit in 44 minutes

Overview

Updated Sep 8

Eighteen employees of insurance giant Willis Towers Watson resigned between 8:02 a.m. and 8:46 a.m. on Aug. 19, then showed up at rival Lockton's office two blocks away in downtown Boston. WTW filed a 67-page verified complaint five days later, accusing Lockton of orchestrating a "smash and grab" of its New England construction insurance team and the clients they serviced.

The case hinges on restrictive covenants that bar soliciting clients and fellow employees, a 15-day notice requirement the departing brokers allegedly skipped, and a compensation package WTW says Lockton used to lure the team — including a 10-year salary guarantee for team leader Michael Scott. At stake: more than $5 million in annual revenue tied to 14 accounts that sent broker-of-record letters within 48 hours of the resignations.

Why it matters

If WTW wins an injunction, insurance brokers across the industry face sharper limits on recruiting entire teams and taking client books with them.

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Key Indicators

Employees who resigned in 44 minutes

Resignations ran from 8:02 a.m. to 8:46 a.m. on Aug. 19.

$5M+

Annual revenue tied to lost accounts

Clients lost within 48 hours generated this revenue for WTW, per the complaint.

Broker-of-record letters received

Five expressly named Lockton as the new broker; WTW alleges the rest also moved to Lockton.

Pages in WTW's verified complaint

Filed Aug. 24 in Suffolk Superior Court against Lockton and the 18 former employees.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Michael Scott

Former WTW New England construction team leader

Named defendant; now at Lockton

William Darrin

Former WTW client relationship manager

Named defendant; accused of failing to repay signing bonus

Thomas Grandmaison

Former WTW senior managing director

Named defendant; breach of fiduciary duty claim

Organizations Involved

Willis Towers Watson (WTW)

Global insurance brokerage and risk-management firm

Plaintiff; seeking injunctive relief and damages

A UK-headquartered insurance brokerage and advisory firm with a Boston office at 125 High St.

Lockton

Privately held insurance brokerage

Defendant; accused of orchestrating the departures

One of the world's largest privately held insurance brokerages, based in Kansas City, Missouri, with a Boston office at 225 Franklin St.

Timeline

November 2025 September 2026

8 events Latest: September 8th, 2026 · 2 months ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

September 2026
Boston.com reports on lawsuit
Latest Media

Boston.com publishes details of the mass resignation and complaint; case remains open with no court update posted.
September 8th, 2026
August 2026
Preliminary injunction hearing not held
Legal

Court docket shows the hearing before Judge Debra A. Squires-Lee did not proceed; parties may be negotiating a resolution.
August 26th, 2026
WTW files verified complaint
Legal

67-page complaint filed in Suffolk Superior Court against Lockton and 18 former employees, seeking temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctions plus damages.
August 24th, 2026
18 employees resign in 44 minutes
Resignation

Michael Scott resigns by email at 8:02 a.m.; 17 others follow by 8:46 a.m., all effective immediately, skipping the 15-day notice requirement.
August 19th, 2026 • 08:02–08:46
Client broker-of-record letters begin arriving
Client Movement

WTW receives 14 broker-of-record letters within 48 hours; five name Lockton explicitly. Lost accounts represent $5M+ in annual revenue.
August 19th, 2026
Scott disparages WTW candidate
Dispute

WTW alleges Scott called a candidate for its construction team a "bottom feeder," then offered the candidate a Lockton job three days later.
August 17th, 2026
March 2026
Scott threatens to leave with team
Dispute

At a leadership meeting, Scott allegedly demands a senior role in a planned reorganization or he'll take his team and clients to Lockton.
March 2026
November 2025
Scott discloses Lockton offer to WTW
Negotiation

Team leader Michael Scott tells a WTW executive that Lockton offered his team a compensation package with a 10-year salary guarantee.
November 2025

Scenarios

Parties settle; Lockton pays, keeps some clients

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: The canceled Aug. 26 hearing suggests active settlement talks; Boston.com notes the docket indicates parties may be working toward a resolution outside court.

WTW and Lockton reach a confidential settlement that includes monetary damages for lost revenue and a structured return of some client accounts. Lockton keeps the 18 employees but may agree to a temporary hold on soliciting certain WTW clients. A settlement would avoid a public airing of compensation details and restrictive covenant arguments.

Court grants injunction; Lockton barred from servicing disputed accounts

Possible Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: WTW's complaint explicitly requests this relief, citing precedent from Lockton's own 2023 Delaware case against Alliant.

Judge Squires-Lee grants a preliminary injunction ordering Lockton to stop servicing the 14 disputed accounts and cease soliciting additional WTW clients. The employees face restrictions on contacting former WTW clients. This outcome would set a sharp precedent for team moves in insurance brokerage nationwide.

Lockton wins; court finds no enforceable restriction

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Lockton has not filed a response yet, but its position would center on WTW's own admission that employees were not barred from joining competitors.

The court denies injunctive relief, finding WTW's restrictive covenants don't prohibit working for a competitor and that client relationships follow the brokers who serviced them. The case narrows to the $98,000 signing bonus claim against Darrin and procedural questions. Lockton keeps the accounts and the case settles quietly for a small sum.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2023

Lockton v. Alliant — Mountain West Series (2023)

Lockton's Mountain West Series subsidiary sued Alliant Insurance Services in Delaware after employees departed for the competitor. Lockton sought relief similar to what WTW now demands against it.

Then

The Delaware court considered Lockton's request for emergency injunctive relief against the departing team and Alliant.

Now

The case became a reference point in brokerage poaching disputes; WTW now cites it as precedent for why Lockton should be held to the same standard it demanded of a rival.

Why this matters now

The same firm now facing a poaching suit previously brought one — a symmetry courts often weigh when evaluating equitable relief.

2019

Aon/Hibernia poaching arbitration (2019)

Aon sued Hibernia Risk Solutions after a team of New York construction brokers departed, taking client relationships and proprietary pricing models. The case settled after arbitration.

Then

The parties reached a confidential settlement before trial, preserving client relationships under a transition agreement.

Now

The case reinforced that construction insurance teams are fiercely competed-over assets, with client relationships often following brokers who service them directly.

Why this matters now

Illustrates the typical resolution path for broker team moves: settlement with transition agreements rather than public adjudication of restrictive covenant law.