The case of a chief executive at UK wealth manager who resigned almost two years ago has started at the High Court in London.

The former chief executive of UK-based Signia Wealth Management, who resigned from the firm at the end of 2015, embarked this week on a High Court battle in London concerning complaints about her expense claims, media reports said. She alleges she has been constructively dismissed.

Nathalie Dauriac left the wealth management house after complaints about her expenses, Mr Justice Marcus Smith was told, according to a report by the Daily Telegraph, Daily Express and other outlets yesterday. 

Bosses at Signia reportedly said Dauriac wrongfully claimed around £30,000 ($39,491) expenses and that she decided to resign rather than face the consequences of her actions.

Reports went on to say that Dauriac claims there was an ulterior motive behind an expenses probe. She claims she was constructively dismissed and did not receive what she was due. She claims she has lost more than £10 million-worth of shares and demands to be compensated.

The judge in the case has reportedly been shown an expenses spreadsheet put together by lawyers acting for Signia showing claims for flights plus claims for gifts for John Caudwell, who founded mobile phone firm Phones4U, and was a backer of Signia. The firm was launched in 2009.

Thomas Plewman QC, who is leading Dauriac's legal team said expenses claims had to be seen in context. "They say expenses were funding a lavish lifestyle," he is reported as saying. "We say that is the wrong analysis. This is not a hardware store, this business. This is a relationship business," he continued. Plewman said 70 per cent of Ms Dauriac's expenses claims related to Mr Caudwell, and that she was the victim of a campaign instigated by Caudwell. He said Dauriac was constructively dismissed.

The case continues.