The City law firm Devonshires has reportedly been sued over allegations of professional negligence by former client Celia Farnon, a hedge fund manager.
Ms Farnon alleges that Devonshires failed in their duties when advising her in a dispute with her former employer Polar Capital. The Hong Kong based hedge fund manager claims that she instructed Devonshires to advise her on a sex discrimination claim she was making against Polar Capital in mid-2008.
In the lawsuit, Ms Farnon explains that she requested to leave her former position to work for a rival after suffering discrimination in the workplace in the form of an underpaid bonus. She claims she was asked for her resignation, and suspended for breach of obligation when she failed to give it.
As part of her complaint against Devonshires – which, as an advisory service, is likely to have substantial professional indemnity coverage – Ms Farnon accuses the firm of failing to advise her adequately on the merits of her complaint and pursue it properly.
A senior partner at Devonshires, Allan Hudson, publicly stated that the firm “vigorously rebutts” the allegations made against it by Ms Farnon.