A Barnes banker who claimed he was sacked from a top investment bank for "not being German enough" has lost his £10million case.

Malcolm Perry lost his £2.2million job at Dresdner Kleinwort during restructuring in May 2006 and claimed it was because he was neither German nor a German speaker.

He tried to sue the firm for £10million, but an employment tribunal in London threw out the case, ruling that while his dismissal was unfair, it was not discriminatory.

Mr Perry, 45, had worked at the bank since April 2005, when he was hired to be the global head of credit products.

A reorganisation of the firm's business banks at the end of 2005 by Allianz, Dresdner's parent company, meant there was no longer a role for him and he was dismissed. He was however, offered no alternative role and the firm did not comply with correct dismissal procedures.

A spokesman for Dresdner Kleinwort said: "Dresdner Kleinwort is pleased the tribunal has unanimously agreed that the bank did not discriminate against Mr Perry and has dismissed his claim. We conceded back in May this year that we had unfairly dismissed Mr Perry based on a technicality. This is absolutely nothing to do with Mr Perry's allegation of discrimination.

"We are an equal opportunities employer that seeks to provide a work place free from discrimination and we will continue to prize and defend these values."

A hearing will be held to decide how much compensation Mr Perry will receive for his unfair dismissal, but employment tribunal law states compensation can only go up to a maximum of £60,000.