[ by Howard Haykin ] A former branch office manager ("BOM") for UBS AG's financial services unit lost a gender discrimination arbitration case ... against the company.  The female BOM filed an arbitration claim in which she sought as much as $14 million in damages.  The complaint was filed in 2010 and the hearings lasted 20 days. Arbitrators' Ruling. The FINRA arbitration panel ruled, on 7/19/12, that UBS Financial Services Inc was "not liable" to Linda Willis Eydt, a former UBS executive director and branch manager, for alleged violations of gender discrimination laws, including a federal equal pay law.  They also rejected her claims that UBS made false promises to entice her to join the company in April 2007. Claimant Must Pay. The claimant, Ms. Eydt, not only doesn't collect any damages from UBS, but she was ordered by the panel to repay UBS about $271K – money the firm said she owed for advances on compensation and funds due through a forgivable loan program. The arbitration panel did not provide reasons for its decision.  A UBS spokeswoman said the company was "pleased with the panel's findings, while the claimant's lawyers did not immediately return phone calls requesting comment. Unusual Case. Arbitration cases involving allegations of gender discrimination are unusual, according to employment lawyer Brian Buckstein.  While FINRA rules require brokers and brokerage managers to arbitrate legal disputes with their employers, an exception gives claimants an option to file discrimination cases in court. Buckstein adds that it's difficult to win a discrimination case, whether filed in a court or in FINRA's arbitration forum because the claimant or plaintiff filing the case must prove the discrimination was intentional. Ms. Willis Eydt, a Wall Street veteran, worked for UBS in Atlanta between 2007 and 2009.  She previously was a senior managing director for Bear Stearns, had an earlier stint at UBS, from 2000 to 2002.  Presently, she works for Barclays Capital Inc. In addition to the $14 million in damages Ms. Eydt sought, UBS filed its own claim against Eydt several days after she started her case.  It is not noted whether UBS sought to collect anything beyond the $271,000 that the firm had advanced her. For further details, go to:  [Reuters, 7/23/12].