Lewis Silkin has acted for Davide Leone & Partners, a hedge fund, and five inpidual respondents in the successful defence of an Employment Tribunal claim brought by Jacopo Moretti, formerly a senior analyst in the fund.
The team was led by Colin Leckey (Partner), supported by Anna Bond (Legal Director), Anna Sella (Managing Associate) and a team from across the firm’s employment practice.
Mr Moretti pursued multiple claims of discrimination, victimisation and harassment, as well as complaints of whistleblowing dismissal and detriment, all of which failed. Mr Moretti's conduct in covertly recording over 70 hours of conversations with his colleagues, including more junior members of staff, was described as "egregious" by the Tribunal, while his evidence was described on multiple occasions as "disingenuous".
Allegations that Mr Leone, the fund's founder, had made anti-Semitic comments were dismissed, as were assertions that DLP's working environment was "toxic". Mr Moretti's dismissal was found to have been for the fair reason of capability - he had been absent from work sick for well over a year with no prospect of this changing - and not for any discriminatory or retaliatory reason.
Mr Moretti was awarded £1,286 for procedural unfair dismissal, having sought over $100m. He was also ordered to pay over £39,000 in costs.
Commenting on the decision, Colin Leckey said: "We are delighted to have represented DLP in their overwhelmingly successful defence of this long running claim, and by the emphatic nature of the Tribunal's findings that the claims lacked substance."
Lewis Silkin instructed David Reade KC and Georgina Leadbetter of Littleton Chambers. The Claimant was represented by Grosvenor Law (Dan Morrison and Rachael Gregory) and Alex Robson (Littleton).