Financial Service Firms Engage in Raiding Suit

Posted on August 13th, 2015 at 2:08 PM
Financial Service Firms Engage in Raiding Suit

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law LLC: 

MetLife Inc. and LPL Financial, two large financial services firms, have entered a heated dispute over the poaching of 60 brokers. In an unresolved claim from May, MetLife claims LPL poached the large amount of brokers since October 2014. The actions allegedly have done irreparable harm to MetLife.

In the claim, MetLife states that LPL “shows no signs of stopping.” While MetLife did not specify the damages it seeks, the company did ask for LPL to be enjoined from soliciting more MetLife employees or customers.

For a successful raiding claim, a firm normally must take at least a third of an office’s revenue and have harmful intent. LPL employed six of MetLife’s top-producing brokers, a group who collectively managed about 490 million in assets. In its defense, LPL is expected to use the “lifeboat defense.” That means that reps were going to jump ship anyway, so the company simply gave them a place to land.

In recent years, MetLife made policy changes that purportedly upset employees. The company switched the employment status of brokers from employees to independent contractors. That caused a lower payout and reduced benefits for brokers.

Additionally, MetLife is changing clearing firms and is moving to Fidelity’s National Financial Services. That change made it a good time for brokers to switch firms because clients already would be transitioning to a new platform.

MetLife reportedly has shed thousands of brokers in recent years due to company shake-ups and falls in variable annuity sales.

The attorneys of Eccleston Law LLC represent investors and advisers nationwide in securities and employment matters. Our attorneys draw on a combined experience of nearly 65 years in delivering the highest quality legal services.

Related Attorneys: James J. Eccleston

Tags: James Eccleston, Eccleston Law Offices, LPL Financial, MetLife

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

I am grateful to have found an outstanding law firm that specializes in securities matters. My lawyers were extremely knowledgeable, diligent, and are skilled litigators. No stone was left upturned. As a result of their experience and tenacity, the arbitration proceeding was dismissed in my favor.

Michael E.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

December 19, 2024
GPB Capital Investors See Progress as Court Confirms Receivership

In a significant development for investors in GPB Capital Holdings, the private equity firm will move into receivership following a prolonged legal battle.

December 18, 2024
SEC Fines Cantor Fitzgerald $6.75 Million for Misleading SPAC Investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. with causing two special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) under its control to make misleading statements to investors before their initial public offerings (IPOs). 

December 17, 2024
Former Western Asset Management Co-CIO Charged with Fraud for Cherry-picking Trades

The SEC recently charged Ken Leech, former Co-CIO of Western Asset Management, with fraud.