WTW has filed a lawsuit against Howden US Services and a former employee alleging poaching of staff and business, AM Best’s news service has reported.

Willis Americas Administration and Willis Towers Watson Northeast claim Danielle Lombardo – a real estate, hospitality and leisure leader – worked with Howden to get her team of four to defect “almost immediately” from WTW without notice, BestWire says.

The lawsuit filed in the US District Court in New Jersey also alleges that, within 48 hours of resigning, she moved business worth millions of dollars annually to Howden.

WTW says it is not trying to prevent Ms Lombardo from joining Howden but is seeking to prevent her from soliciting, accepting business from and servicing current and prospective clients, according to the lawsuit.

It alleges Howden is performing coast-to-coast “unlawful raids” that can include more than 100 employees leaving at once as the competitor builds its US footprint.

WTW has declined to comment and attempts to gain comment from Howden were not immediately successful, BestWire says.

Marsh & McLennan subsidiaries have also filed lawsuits against Howden this year, making many of the same accusations, according to the report.