Willis hits back at Aon trade secrets allegations

Insurance broker Willis Towers Watson has filed a trade secrets lawsuit against rival Aon, on the same day it was sued by Aon.

Earlier today, WIPR reported that Aon sued Willis Towers Watson over the hiring of Michael Burwell as chief financial officer (CFO).

Aon claimed that the former PwC consultant had misappropriated Aon’s trade secrets and confidential information, while helping Aon with its strategy.

Burwell and Willis hit back the same day, filing a suit (pdf) at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division.

“Burwell has not divulged and will not divulge any of Aon’s confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets to the extent they exist,” said the claim.

Willis claimed that Aon’s counsel had sent a letter which “brazenly threatened” that it would be unethical for Burwell to take on his job role at Willis.

For some “unexplained reason”, Burwell’s assurances to PwC are not enough to satisfy Aon, Willis said.

The suit added: “To suggest in a letter to the senior legal officers of Burwell’s new employer that he has acted unethically without a shred of evidence, is nothing short of a reckless and outrageous attempt to interfere with his employment.”

Willis is asking the court to declare that Burwell has not misappropriated and/or misused Aon’s trade secrets, and to find that Burwell has no obligation to Aon that prevents him from working at Willis.

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