Healthcare Locums (HCL) has confirmed that Kate Bleasdale, its founder and sacked former vice-chairman, has made a legal claim against the company for unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination.

A spokesman for HCL confirmed the legal action, telling London’s Evening Standard: “We are more than a little surprised by Ms Bleasdale’s claims. We are confident of defending our position if we need to.”

This is not the first time Bleasdale has taken an employer to an Employment Tribunal. In 2002, she won £2.2m in what was then a record payout for sexual discrimination after she was sacked from Match Group. Bleasdale went on to found HCL in 2003.

According to press reports, Bleasdale is also claiming she blew the whistle on its accounting irregularities before being sacked by HCL amid an investigation into financial irregularities.

Bleasdale was reported as saying: “I reported accounting irregularities to the board on the 13 January, 2011. As soon as I found out, I told the board about it.”

According to a report in the Evening Standard, a close associate said: “The law states whistle-blowers should be protected, not punished for their actions. When Kate discovered all was not right, she went straight to the board.

“What happened was not her fault so she’s just lodged a claim in the City of London tribunal. Her reputation has been trashed. She wants to stand up at that tribunal and tell everybody exactly what really happened.”

HCL responded: “The company is surprised by Miss Bleasdale’s claims as they do not fit with its own findings.”

These developments follow last week’s Annual General Meeting. Before the AGM, the company said the board there had been a breakdown in financial controls within the group and that previous accounts were misstated. And it referred to the use of “aggressive accounting practices”.