The founders of Precedent Wealth, a San Antonio RIA providing profit-sharing to shoppers, have been sued by the financial institution that owns their former agency for allegedly stealing confidential data and commerce secrets and techniques whereas performing improperly to poach shoppers served at their former agency.
Cadence Financial institution, which purchased Linscomb & Williams in 2012, sued brothers Harold and George Williams for violating the nationwide Defend Commerce Secrets and techniques Act, Texas Uniform Commerce Secrets and techniques Act and their contractual and fiduciary obligations once they left the agency final April after 50 years. Harold Williams based L&W with Dan Linscomb in 1971, and George Williams joined quickly after.
Among the many allegations outlined within the swimsuit, the financial institution claims the Williams brothers uncared for to offer correct discover earlier than resigning in an try and “maximize chaos and confusion” and that they reached out to shoppers earlier than and after their departure with the assistance of a proprietary file containing private details about 275 shoppers regarding their traits and preferences—a listing the plaintiffs say they improperly accessed and retained.
Plaintiffs additionally allege that the Williams “misappropriated, and have threatened to proceed to misappropriate” commerce secrets and techniques associated to portfolio modeling and efficiency, operations, asset administration methods, information experiences and monetary data which are “used to offer providers and in any other case do enterprise outdoors of Texas.”
“The Williams Brothers have been additionally paid substantial sums of cash in change for the commerce secrets and techniques and confidential data they developed earlier than promoting Linscomb to Cadence and whereas employed in government roles,” the swimsuit notes.
In a courtroom submitting dated March 13, 2024, legal professionals define digital proof that the Williams, together with Harold’s son, Grant, started planning their departure earlier than the autumn of 2022. They have been ready for potential litigation and met with Dynasty Monetary Companions in November. Primarily based on the proof, the trio seems to have had at the least some concept of what number of property would be part of them on “Day One.”
The submitting states that Cadence has acquired “at the least 80” notices of signed shopper transfers to Precedent from the financial institution’s RIA, which started working as Linscomb Wealth in January.
“This illegal conduct has resulted in a loss to Linscomb of nicely over $350 million in AUM up to now, which, upon data and perception, has all transferred to Precedent,” in keeping with the swimsuit.
Precedent Wealth introduced its launch on the Dynasty platform on April 26, 2023, simply twelve days after formally resigning from Linscomb. The agency’s founders chosen the identify Precedent to focus on a profit-sharing, price rebate program referred to as ‘WillShare’ that Harold Williams mentioned he hoped would set a brand new business normal.
A Dynasty spokesperson mentioned neither Dynasty nor the Precedent staff could be obtainable for touch upon the swimsuit; makes an attempt to succeed in Cadence for remark have been additionally unsuccessful.
