Employment law firm faces sex discrimination hearing

The head of the employment team at law firm Bond Pearce has denied sexually discriminating against a senior solicitor.

Employment lawyer Julie Miller claims she was a victim of a seven-month campaign of bullying and discrimination by manager Alison Bell.

She told an employment tribunal in Cardiff last week that she was a victim of sex discrimination when she came back from maternity leave.

She claimed she was bullied and felt so humiliated she had no choice but to resign her position.

Miller told the tribunal the abuse went on for seven months until an appraisal meeting in May 2004. She said Bell and senior partner Peter Woodhouse laughed at her and humiliated her throughout the two-hour hearing at the company’s Bristol offices.

Bell has strongly denied she insulted or humiliated Miller.

A decision from the tribunal is expected in the next month.