A Blackpool law firm which told a female solicitor that she could not enter the partnership because she was married to another partner faces a potential six-figure damages claim after losing a tribunal case this week.

The court upheld Rosemary Landless' action against Roland Robinson & Fentons for constructive dismissal and sex discrimination that had lasted more than a decade, calling the firm's rule forbidding marriage between partners a 'flimsy construct'.

The tribunal heard that a male solicitor junior to Ms Landless had been made an equity partner before her in 1991, and how, when she pressed for promotion, a special role of salaried partner was created for her in 1994 rather than allowing her to enter the equity partnership.

The court was told that one partner had said to Ms Landless that it had been harder for him to progress through the firm because he had not 'slept with the senior partner'.

In March 2002, Mrs Landless was offered an equity partnership so long as she paid for it.

She argued that this did not take into account her age and experience.

A month later she resigned from the firm.

The tribunal chairman said Ms Landless had been treated as an 'appendage' of her husband rather than treated as a 'lawyer of standing in her own right'.

It found that if she had been treated equally to male colleagues she would have become an equity partner in 1987.

Ms Landless' solicitor Michael Morrison, partner at Hill Dickinson in Manchester, said: 'Damages will be a matter for the tribunal - but we will be arguing that the discrimination occurred since 1987 and so we will be looking for a high six-figure sum.

The tribunal's findings were correct and did not come as a surprise to us.

They vindicate my client's actions in leaving the firm after so many years of service and commencing proceedings.'

Clive Marquis Carr, partner at Roland Robinson & Fentons, said: 'The matter is in the hands of our legal team and consideration is being given as to whether we will appeal'.

A damages hearing will take place in June or July.

Rachel Rothwell