Clifford Chance, responding to a lawsuit by a former associate accusing the firm of illegally targeting women and minorities during layoffs in 2007, has denied that it discriminated against the six structured finance associates who were terminated.

In papers filed earlier this month, Clifford Chance said it had non-discriminatory reasons for its actions toward the six associates, one of whom was Karen Ramdhanie, who in October sued Clifford Chance in Manhattan Supreme Court over alleged violations of New York City’s Human Rights Law.