A former Clifford Chance (CC) Thai lawyer who is attempting to sue the UK giant for $12.9m (£6.8m) has dropped his defamation claim and entered into mediation over the allegations of employment law violations.

Udom Prepraemvatana, a lawyer at legacy firm Wirot International Law Offices that merged with CC in 2001, filed the $12.9m (£6.8m) claim on 12 April, claiming he was unfairly dismissed as well as being libelled by the City firm and two other defendants.