Galliano appeared at a hearing at the Conseil de Prud'hommes - France's equivalent to an employment tribunal - in Paris on Monday.

His lawyer claimed victory after the court ruled that it was qualified to hear the 52-year-old designer's claims against his dismissal as the creative director of Christian Dior in March 2011.

After 15 years in the role, Galliano was fired after it was alleged that he had subjected a couple in a Paris cafe to an anti-Semitic outburst. He was fired from his eponymous label, 91% owned by Christian Dior, in April 2011, and found guilty of the claims in September of that year.

Christian Dior has 15 days in which to contest the decision. If it does so, the argument will be submitted to the Paris Court of Appeal in up to nine months' time.

Galliano was contracted to Christian Dior with an annual salary of à1-million, plus variable compensation of up to à700000, and a percentage linked to the company's annual sales rise. He was also paid as a consultant on the luxury fashion house's advertising campaigns, fragrance endeavours and websites. He had a budget of à90000 for clothing and grooming.

Additionally, Galliano was paid à2-million as artistic director of his own label.