First major age discrimination case falls at first hurdle as court rejects £4.5m claim against law firm

Peter Bloxham, former head of insolvency at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, has lost his £4.5m age discrimination claim.

Bloxham accused Freshfields of age discrimination on the ground that changes to its pension scheme affected partners differently according to their age.

However, the tribunal said that it had found against Bloxham's claims of indirect and direct discrimination. It said: "The unanimous judgment of the tribunal is that [Bloxham's] complaint of discrimination on the grounds of age is not well-founded and is dismissed."

It is the first major case involving age discrimination legislation, which was introduced in October 2006.

Bloxham, who now works as a policyholder advocate for the Prudential insurance company, was not present at the hearing, and was said to be out of the country.

Freshfields is facing a similar claim to from former corporate partner Lois Moore, now at Shearman & Sterling.