DISCRIMINATION: Asian manager seeks award after tribunal finds victimisation in meeting

An Asian part-time intranet project manager at magic circle firm Allen & Overy will next month seek substantial damages from the firm after an employment tribunal held that she had been victimised in a meeting over a discrimination claim she had begun against.

However, the London Central Employment Tribunal rejected Shazia Wahab's ten other grounds of unlawful discrimination on grounds of her sex or race, or because she was a part-time worker, saying Allen & Overy has 'generally good equal opportunities policies and procedures'.

The case arose when Ms Wahab, who had been in the marketing department, moved to a part-time role in the internal communications team and later took on some of the responsibilities of a manager who left the firm.

The dispute centred around whether Ms Wahab had been promoted, general uncertainty about her precise role, and a pay rise she considered insufficient.

The finding of unlawful discrimination by way of victimisation against Ms Wahab followed a meeting with human resources manager Jo Booth after initiating her claim.

The tribunal found that Ms Booth told Ms Wahab that she had committed 'professional suicide' and that before making a complaint, people usually leave the firm.

She also said Ms Wahab had shown she was not trustworthy or loyal to the firm.

In respect to Ms Wahab's other claims, the tribunal backed Allen & Overy's approach in handling her complaints, finding that it generally 'has a positive approach to equal opportunities'.

Ms Wahab represented herself in the tribunal proceedings, while senior partner Guy Beringer was among the witnesses.

Lawrence Davies, a consultant at London firm Imran Khan & Partners who is acting for Ms Wahab at the remedies hearing next month, said: 'This case blows the lid on discrimination in the magic circle firms.

We hope other victims will now find the courage to come forward.'

He said a large award was needed to change the culture of large firms.

Ms Wahab plans to give much of any such award to charities tackling discrimination at work, Mr Davies added.

An Allen & Overy spokeswoman said: 'The firm is deeply saddened that the tribunal has ruled that we discriminated against one of our employees.

This related to a specific incident, and the tribunal dismissed ten of the 11 claims of unlawful discrimination against it.' The firm refused to comment on the level of damages.

Ms Wahab, who remains at Allen & Overy, is bringing a second victimisation claim on the basis that when she was on sick leave during the events surrounding her first claim, her job was given to a less experienced white male comparator.

Allen & Overy declined to comment on the second claim.