Commerzbank has filed its defence against a lawsuit in the High Court from more than 80 City bankers who are suing for €33m (£30m) worth of unpaid bonuses in the biggest case of its kind in the UK.

The investment bankers claim that Commerzbank and Dresdner Kleinwort, which the German bank acquired last year, reneged on explicit promises to pay their bonuses in full. The amounts being sought in the case range from €45,000 to €1.67m.