By Isha Marathe

May 12 - (The Insurer) - Marsh has sued WTW and exiting aviation and space market specialists Garrett Hanrahan and John Andrews alleging that they conspired with their new employer to solicit brokers and clients ahead of commencing employment at the rival.

As this publication exclusively reported in late April, Marsh global head of aviation and space practice Garrett Hanrahan and its aviation and space practice managing director John Andrews both resigned ahead of a move to WTW. Marsh has responded by filing a complaint in the New York Supreme Court in which it alleges that between December 2024 and January 2025, Hanrahan concocted a plan with John Rooley, his former colleague and current CEO of WTW’s global aviation and space practice, to recruit all the key members of Marsh’s aviation and space practice in the U.S., Canada, and UK.

Marsh denied a request for comment. WTW did not respond to a request for comment.

Once at WTW, Marsh alleges that those employees would solicit their clients to shift business to their new employer. Such a move would leave "Marsh crippled and unable to service its existing client base", the complaint said.

Hanrahan resigned on April 28, effective May 12.

Since then, five Marsh employees have also resigned and advised they will join WTW. Those five include Steve Kisor and Andrews, managing directors in the practice, and Claudia Shipman and Elizabeth O’Raidy, senior vice presidents.

According to Marsh's complaint, Hanrahan and Rooley have allegedly contacted more than a dozen other senior members of its aviation and space practice, hoping to recruit them to join WTW.

The broker said it has since convinced these employees to stay.

Because the aviation and space group is a niche practice largely serviced by brokers Marsh, WTW, Arthur J. Gallagher, and Aon, Marsh said the solicitation of its clients and brokers is "the antithesis of fair competition."

"Hanrahan and Rooley believed this would provide WTW further leverage to solicit clients, whom they thought would have no choice but to choose WTW as their broker. This also would help them to persuade Marsh team members that their only viable option for employment would be at WTW," the complaint claims.

Marsh is suing the defendants on 11 counts, including injunctive relief, breaches of non-solicitation agreements, breaches of loyalty, tortious interference, aiding and abetting, and civil conspiracy.