Twitter embroiled in gender- bias, hiring practices suit

San Francisco

TWO hot issues in Silicon Valley - the lack of diversity and the battle for talent - have collided at Twitter Inc.

Less than a year after the Valley's male-dominated culture gained worldwide attention in a discrimination case involving the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a similar suit against Twitter has also highlighted long-standing questions about how technology companies vie for employees.

Tina Huang, a former Twitter engineer, claims she was denied promotions and ultimately forced out because she's a woman - and that an old colleague from Twitter can back her up. But the company's lawyer, Lynne Hermle - who successfully defended Kleiner Perkins in its high-profile fight with Ellen Pao - has warned the potential witness may have violated an employment contract with Twitter by helping Ms Huang find a new job. Twitter says Ms Huang's…