Deutsche Bank is going on offense. The German banking giant has filed a counterclaim against four former senior employees, seeking approximately $636 million in damages tied to the long-running Monte dei Paschi di Siena scandal. The move is a direct response to the ex-employees’ own lawsuit, which demands over £600 million, roughly $800 million, for what they claim is irreparable reputational harm.
The roots of a very expensive grudge
To understand this legal brawl, you have to rewind to the period between 2008 and 2012. Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the world’s oldest bank (founded in 1472), was allegedly hiding around €2 billion in losses. The method of concealment involved complex derivatives transactions conducted with the help of Deutsche Bank and Nomura.
In November 2019, a Milan court convicted 13 individuals connected to the scheme, including executives who had worked at Deutsche Bank. Then, in 2022, those convictions were overturned.
The counterclaim: Deutsche Bank fires back
The four former employees at the center of this latest round had sued Deutsche Bank, arguing that the institution used them as scapegoats. Their position is that Deutsche Bank knowingly participated in the MPS transactions, then hung its own people out to dry when regulators came knocking. They want $800 million for the damage done to their careers and reputations.
Deutsche Bank’s response is a firm denial of scapegoating and a counterclaim valued at approximately $636 million. Separate lawsuits from other former employees have also surfaced since 2025, with one individual seeking €152 million in damages. The combined claims and counterclaims now exceed $1.4 billion.