Barristers representing the alleged victims of Mohamed Al Fayed have said the case "combines some of the most horrific elements of the cases involving Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein".
The late Harrods' owner was described as a "monster" during a press conference held by the legal team featured in the BBC documentary Al-Fayed: Predator At Harrods.
More than 20 female former employees have spoken to the broadcaster as part of a special investigation, coming forward with allegations of assault and physical violence at properties in London and Paris.
Five women alleged they had been raped by Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94.
Speaking at a press conference in London, barrister Dean Armstrong KC said he had "never seen a case as horrific as this".
"This case combines some of the most horrific elements of the cases involving Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein," he said.
Mr Armstrong said: "Savile because in this case, as in that, the institution, we say, knew about the behaviour.
"Epstein because in that case, as in this, there was a procurement system in place to source the women and girls - as you know there are some very young victims.
"And Weinstein, because it was a person at the very top of the organisation who was abusing his power.
"We will say plainly, Mohammed Al Fayed was a monster."
Barrister Bruce Drummond told the press conference that Harrods "must accept responsibility for the damage these women have suffered".
He said: "This is one of the worst cases of corporate sexual exploitation that certainly I, and perhaps the world has ever seen.
"It was absolutely horrific and I can't stress that word enough."
US lawyer Gloria Allred told the press conference Harrods was a "toxic, unsafe and abusive environment" under the chairmanship of Fayed.
She said the allegations "involve cover-ups, threats and a quarter of a century of sexual abuse by Mohammed Al Fayed after he purchased Harrods and became its chairman".
Ms Allfred said Harrods "is often referred to as the most beautiful store in the world", but she said, "underneath the Harrods glitz and glamour was a toxic, unsafe and abusive environment".
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