In court documents filed at the weekend in New York, Dresdner applied for the dismissal of the case of Katherine Smith, a London-based banker. Dresdner claimed that she should bring her case separately under British law.

The bank also asked the court to excise “scandalous and mean-spirited” allegations about visits to strip clubs and an open affair by a former chief executive.

Dresdner said that these claims were irrelevant because none of the women claimed to be victims of sexual harassment. Instead, the women contend that they were denied promotion and were paid less than men.

The women say that in equity capital markets women are less than 2 per cent of the managing directors — the top executive level.

The bank accused the women of pandering to the press by notifying the media of their class-action lawsuit before the bank had received the documents. It complained that British tabloids “laid siege” to defendants at their homes, harassing one banker’s wife and children.

Dresdner said: “Plaintiffs’ malicious tactics are clear: issue a press release to the media in the US, London and Frankfurt; file the complaint; do not serve defendants with the complaint; and let the press have a field day with the individual defendants at their homes.”

Douglas Wigdor, the lawyer representing the women, said: “What Dresdner is doing is so deplorable that it’s important to inform the public rather than remaining silent.”

The US Equal Employment Opportunities Commission is currently investigating allegations of sexism at Dresdner after being asked by the women to support their case. Investment banks have begun to fight sex discrimination claims aggressively instead of reaching out-of-court settlements.

Merrill Lynch contested Stephanie Villalba’s record £7.5 million claim. An appeal over Ms Villalba, who won £60,000 in damages, is due to be heard next month at the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

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