DLA Piper faces sexual discrimination claim from former partner

DLA Piper is this week defending itself in a Liverpool employment tribunal against sexual discrimination allegations brought by a former partner.

The six-day hearing kicked off yesterday (15 March) after former real estate partner Sarah Sweeney started proceedings against DLA Piper last year. Sweeney, who joined DLA Piper as a trainee in 1996, was asked to leave the firm in 2008 while pregnant with her son.

Sweeney is being advised by Mace & Jones head of employment Martin Edwards, with 11 KBW's Timothy Pitt-Payne instructed as counsel.

DLA Piper has turned to former Dewey & LeBoeuf employment partner Matthew Howse, who this month moved to Morgan Lewis. Littleton Chambers' Gavin Mansfield has been instructed as counsel.

In a statement, DLA Piper said: "We strongly contest the allegations that have been made by Sarah in this case and will be calling evidence to rebut all aspects of her claim. The nature of these cases is that the claimant's evidence, including her allegations, will come first and in this case it is likely to take some time for that evidence to be given and challenged during cross examination. The full picture will not therefore become clear until after we have given our evidence.

"Like any other business, we regret when people leave us because of a change in market conditions but, sadly, in 2008 it was something that we had to face up to as a business, along with many other employers in the legal and professional services sector. At this stage it would be inappropriate to make any further comment."

DLA Piper on the Legal Week Wiki