Judge issues temporary injunction in Howden, Brown & Brown case

A Minnesota judge partially granted Brown & Brown’s motion for a temporary injunction against Howden U.S. and 16 former employees who joined the rival brokerage last December.

In an order issued Thursday, the Hennepin County District Court said former Brown & Brown employees must comply with confidentiality, customer nonsolicitation and employee non-recruitment provisions in agreements signed with Hays Cos., which Brown & Brown acquired in 2018.

The court also enjoined Howden from “intentionally and without justification procuring the breach of any contract” involving current or former Brown & Brown employees.

The ruling stems from the resignation of nearly 300 Brown & Brown employees across the country on Dec. 18, 2025, including about 40 employees in Minnesota, who joined Howden after the broker launched its U.S. retail operation last summer.

In Brown & Brown Inc. et al. v. Howden US Services LLC et al.Judge Thomas Conley wrote that Brown & Brown had shown evidence of “ongoing solicitation” of customers, breaches of restrictive covenants and potential misuse of confidential information.

The court also said Brown & Brown had demonstrated “both past and ongoing irreparable harm” for purposes of the motion.

The order allows former Brown & Brown clients who moved to Howden between Dec. 18, 2025, and the date of the order to continue being serviced by the former employees on behalf of Howden. However, the employees must maintain logs detailing work performed on those accounts going forward.

A separate case involving Howden and Brown & Brown is pending in Massachusetts state court.