An expectant mother has filed proceedings against the company she worked with as a senior executive for nine years, claiming she was informed her services were no longer required after becoming pregnant.

Anika Psaila Savona, 39, who worked as legal counsel with CHI Hotels and Resorts, formerly Corinthia Hotels International, until January, filed the case in the Industrial Tribunal after receiving a letter terminating her employment, six months into her pregnancy.

"I'd hate to think what something like this would do to someone who suffers from high blood pressure or who does not have their family's support," she said.

Dr Psaila Savona, who is four weeks away from delivering her first child, is convinced her pregnancy is behind the unexpected letter, which did not provide a reason for dismissal.

She told The Sunday Times that not only had she received no prior warning, but had always received excellent feedback on her work and last October was given a bonus.

When contacted, CHI chief executive Tony Potter said it was not company policy to discuss individual situations.

"What I can tell you, is CHI would never think of doing anything other than put into practice the finest standards of employment. Therefore, we wouldn't entertain such an idea," he said, when asked if Dr Psaila Savona was dismissed because she was pregnant.

"If an individual is going to make a claim against any company... it would normally be done through a court of law or an industrial tribunal. If any claim has to be addressed, that's where we would have to address it.

"I tried to assist you by telling you our general approach, which I think goes with a solid reputation, and should anybody try to make such accusations, which clearly are false, we would rigorously defend them no matter who it was, but I cannot comment on an individual case," he said.

Mr Potter added that the company never directly employed their lawyer, but instead operated on a consultancy agreement basis.

Dr Psaila Savona confirmed she had been engaged on a consultancy agreement since 2007, but in reality she was an employee and had always been treated as such. She believed the tribunal would recognise "that substance will override form" when the full range of her contractual rights and obligations were taken into account.

EU law, which forms part of Malta's legislation, makes it clear the dismissal of women employees during the period from the beginning of their pregnancy for a certain period of motherhood should not be tolerated. Dismissal is only allowed in exceptional cases "not connected with their condition".

Dr Psaila Savona said that when in 2007 she moved from the parent company to CHI she had been negotiating an indefinite part-time contract. To her surprise, at the eleventh hour she was offered a consultancy agreement, though she claims Mr Potter orally assured her he would put her "back on the payroll once the dust settled".

"I felt pressured into signing because I feared not doing so would be seen as a lack of trust in him," she said, adding she had been trying to regularise her contract since July 2009 as she felt enough time had passed.

Instead, on January 8 she received a letter saying: "The company does not want to carry on the present arrangement and wishes to terminate the abovementioned agreement."

She was given three months notice and if she had any questions she was to address them to the company's external lawyer.

"I've been trying to give some sense to the past nine years where I spent every moment defending the company, and suddenly I find I'm the nemesis," she said.

Dr Psaila Savona joined the Corinthia Palace Hotel Company Ltd as legal services director in January 2001, after returning from Cape Town where she had spent five years first as a consultant and then managing director with Sovereign Trust.

A law graduate with a Magister Juris from the University of Oxford, Dr Psaila Savona was the only woman at director level when she joined, and the only in-house lawyer for the entire group for seven years.

She was focused on her career, working an average 12 to 15 hours a day. But when her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2003, her priorities shifted.

In 2005 she took a pay cut and began to work reduced hours to spend more time with her mother and family, but she still put in the hours, "because it was expected of me".

In 2007, she was offered the position of legal director for IHI on a full-time basis, but it came with the condition that she had immerse herself "body and soul" into the job.

She declined, and handed in her resignation. Apparently, not prepared to lose her, Corinthia group chairman Alfred Pisani offered her the position of legal counsel with CHI on a part-time basis - working five hours a day, with extra hourly payment thereafter when the company required her services - which she accepted.

Things changed when news spread she was pregnant. Dr Psaila Savona pointed out that, with the exception of the chairman's daughter, she was the only female employee at a senior executive or director level who had become pregnant.

When the company learnt she was expecting, negotiations on her contract came to a sudden halt. Instead, they offered her a non-negotiable part-time contract with a clause binding her to be available at all times with no compensation for any work beyond the five hours a day.

She added that when she was in a meeting with Mr Pisani he said he heard a rumour she was expecting a baby.

"I confirmed this, but he never uttered a word of congratulations. Then during Christmas drinks we met again and instead of greeting me he said I won't be able to prioritise the company over the child. I assured him it would not affect my work," she said.

When contacted, Mr Pisani denied this, but would not comment further.

Dr Psaila Savona said: "I'm aware this is a case of David versus Goliath, but I feel I have to speak up and raise awareness on this issue."