A contact familiar with the case, which was filed by the tycoon’s former assistant over a year ago, says the arbitration process is progressing, however, and believes a resolution could be reached by the first half of 2013 or even sooner but offered no guarantees.

In August the defendants’ attorneys convinced a federal judge in New York to rule in favour of a motion to compel arbitration but the victory was bitter sweet as the complaint was put on hold pending the outcome of the tribunal rather than dismissed, according to court documents.

The