City boss accused of sex bias

THE CHAIRMAN of a City law firm which acts for some of Britain's top sports stars has been accused of sexual discrimination by three women in one year, it emerged yesterday.

Tony Collins, of the firm Edward Lewis, has offered to resign from the board after six other partners confronted him about a series of discrimination allegations. The show-down follows weeks of turmoil at the firm caused by the allegations.

In June last year a case of sex discrimination brought by Mr Collins's secretary was settled by the firm. Earlier this year, a second claim by an assistant solicitor was also settled. In neither case was liability admitted and Mr Collins is understood to have denied all allegations.

Now, according to the legal magazine Legal Week, a salaried partner in the firm has instructed one of the country's leading employment lawyers to act for her in relation to her allegations.