City firm Herbert Smith this week lost its appeal against a finding of unfair dismissal, sex discrimination, victimisation and contravention of the part-time workers' regulations in the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT).

However, the EAT did uphold the firm's appeal on one claim of victimisation.


The EAT supported an earlier tribunal's decision that the firm had discriminated against senior IT manager Michelle Langton (see [2005] Gazette, 28 July, 4). She was awarded £40,000 in damages by the tribunal, which ordered Herbert Smith to re-employ her on a job-share basis.


A Herbert Smith spokesman said: 'We are disappointed with the EAT judgment and continue to believe that the original decision of the employment tribunal was wrong. We are today seeking leave to appeal from the Court of Appeal.


'Flexible working and female retention are important issues for the firm, and will remain key priorities for us going forward.'


Ms Langton's case received the backing of the Equal Opportunities Commission.