City lawyer Sarah Sweeney awaiting case outcome
A LAWYER who claimed she was sacked from a top city law firm for being pregnant must wait at least a fortnight for the outcome of her case.
Sarah Sweeney claimed she was sexually discriminated against by DLA Piper and branded the firm, where she worked as a partner, an “old boys’ club”.
The firm contested her allegations and said it had to let her go because of the effect of the credit crunch on its real estate work. Ms Sweeney, 36, was asked to leave the firm in November, 2008.
The city employment tribunal heard claims “overpaid” senior partners could have taken salary cuts to save her job.
But DLA Piper’s barrister Gavin Mansfield likened the situation to a “sinking ship”, and said Ms Sweeney was simply the most dispensable.
The tribunal heard submissions yesterday and will rule in two to three weeks’ time.
