It appears that the Georgia Court of Appeals narrowly interpreted the phrase “on behalf of” in a non-solicitation clause to prevent application of a non-solicitation provision to support a breach of contract claim. Although the parties did not dispute that the Clause applied to clients who transacted business with the plaintiff, Atlantic Insurance Brokers LLC (“AIB”), and dealt with the agent (“Phillips”) during the course of the relationship, the Court nonetheless concluded that there was no breach of the Agreement.

The Clause provided, in pertinent part, that

Phillips covenants that during the term of this Agreement, and for a period of two (2) years following termination of this Agreement for any reason, he shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, solicit, sell, attempt to divert or provide competing insurance services or coverages to any insureds who transacted business with AIB and with whom Phillips dealt with on behalf of AIB and had material contact . . . .

Atlantic Ins. Brokers LLC v. Slade Hancock Agency Inc., Case No. A07A1177, 07 FCDR 3002 ( 10/12/07).

In some unusual facts, the client at issue, 24/7 contacted Phillips for assistance in procuring insurance after Phillips left AIB but before the Agreement terminated. He referred the business to AIB to assist him in procuring insurance. AIB assisted in procuring the insurance for 24/7 (splitting the commission with Phillips’s new employer), but the insurer declined to renew the policy the following year. 24/7 again asked Phillips for help, and he brokered insurance for them through his new company, without assistance from AIB. AIB sued, alleging that 24/7 was an insured covered by the Clause, and thus Phillips breached the agreement. The Court rejected AIB’s claim because AIB did not ask Phillips to work with 24/7. In other words, it appears that the Court may have equated the phrase “on behalf of” to be equivalent to “at the request of.” Although the factual scenario is highly unique, one should consider whether through its interpretation of the agreement the Court created unusual defenses in upcoming breach of contract cases about the meaning of “on behalf of.”