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A former employee who claims he was sacked because he is gay is taking a claim for unfair dismissal against high street bank HSBC to an employment tribunal.
Peter Lewis, former global head of equities at HSBC, left the bank last month, five months after moving there from Societe Generale, where he was head of global client trading.
HSBC said Lewis had been “dismissed for gross personal misconduct” and declared that it would contest the case.
“We are satisfied we have made the right decision in dismissing Peter Lewis and will defend the claim vigorously,” said a spokesman.
But Lewis's lawyer, Alison Downie of Bindman & Partners, told the London Evening Standard: “My client says he was dismissed because HSBC Bank Plc discriminated against him because of his sexual orientation as a gay man.
"There is no question of any allegation of financial impropriety or failure at work by my client.'
Downie and Lewis filed the claim with the Employment Tribunals on 1 March but no date has yet been set for a hearing.
