Top City analyst sues firm for paying more to men

A successful City analyst who was rated as a top performer in her field is suing her former employers for paying her less than male colleagues.

Louise Barton says the fund managers Investec Henderson Crosthwaite paid two men more than her six-figure salary even though she generated as much or more revenue.

Ms Barton was one of the City's most influential media experts and was ranked top in her area by a Reuters financial survey. She lodged a claim for sexual discrimination and equal pay in December 2000 but resigned the next month because the atmosphere at work had become "too difficult".

Ms Barton, 52, who had worked in the City for more than 20 years, has also filed claims for constructive dismissal and victimisation, which will be heard at an employment tribunal.

"I have been in the city for over 20 years and was ranked as the top small company media analyst," she said yesterday.

"I have had a lot of experience in the City and this the first blatant example of sexual discrimination that I have encountered. The salary for broking is based on revenue generation. I was producing as much and in one case more than the men on my team and yet they were getting a higher proportion of the pay."