The Labor Department's suit alleges JPM paid certain female employees less than male counterparts.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. must face a U.S. Labor Department lawsuit that alleges the company systematically paid female employees less than men, a federal labor appeals panel has ruled, putting a fresh spotlight on pay equity in the financial services industry.

The decision by a three-judge Administrative Review Board panel, issued on Oct. 5 but not widely reported, marked the second time JPMorgan lost an effort to dismiss the claims. The financial institution, represented by a team from McGuireWoods, earlier failed to convince an administrative law judge to dismiss the Labor Department's allegations. The review board this month rejected a petition from the bank that could have shut down the case.