You are in > manchester.com  > News > Gay City banker tribunal begins

Business

Gay City banker tribunal begins

07/03/2006

A former senior executive at banking giants HSBC has today brought his case of unfair dismissal on the grounds of his sexuality before an employment tribunal in London.

In what represents the most high-profile case of unfair dismissal on grounds of sexual orientation ever heard in the UK, Peter Lewis, former global head of equity trading at the bank's UK headquarters in Canary Wharf, is suing for £5 million in damages, claiming that he was sacked because he was gay.

Mr Lewis, who was on a £1 million a year salary at bank, was dismissed following an internal disciplinary investigation into allegations of sexual harassment brought against him by a male colleague following an incident at the company's gym.

Alison Downie, Mr Lewis' solicitor at Bindman & Partners, said before today's hearing at an employment tribunal in Stratford, east London, that her client was pleased he would finally have the opportunity to put forward his case against the bank.

"My client is keen to have his case heard by the tribunal, pleased that the law now enables him to bring his claim and maintains that he would not have been dismissed but for his sexual orientation," Ms Downie said.

However, HSBC has vehemently denied the allegations, insisting that the decision to dismiss Mr Lewis was made following a thorough examination of all available evidence against him by an internal disciplinary committee and was not to do with his sexuality.

"We utterly reject the allegations of discrimination made by the dismissed employee, which are wholly lacking in foundation," an HSBC spokesman said ahead of the tribunal.

"HSBC investigated that complaint and as a result of that investigation instituted disciplinary proceedings. At every stage of the investigation and the disciplinary process, the employee was given the opportunity to put his side of the story. After examining all the evidence, the complaint was upheld and, as a result, the employee was dismissed."

Mr Lewis filed his complaint in accordance with new legislation introduced in 2003 outlawing discrimination on the grounds of religion or sexual orientation.

Gay rights groups are watching the proceedings with interest, with Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, believing Mr Lewis' case has the potential to become a landmark ruling.

"If Peter Lewis is successful, inevitably there will be employers across the country that start taking the treatment of their lesbian and gay staff more seriously," Mr Summerskill said.

© Adfero Ltd