Investment
bank Merrill Lynch is facing the biggest ever sex discrimination claim heard by
a British employment tribunal.
Stephanie
Villalba, who was made redundant last year from her post as head of the firm’s
European private client business, is seeking £7.8m in damages for gender
discrimination, unfair dismissal and unequal pay.
She
has also filed a separate case in the High Court to try and force Merrill Lynch
to hand over e-mails, notes and other personal documents to help her win her
claim.
The
biggest City payout to date was made in 2002 when Julie Bower, a former
Schroder Securities analyst, was awarded £1.4m.
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The
case is being heard in Croydon, south London, and is expected to last six
weeks.