Pogust Goodhead co-founder demands name removal over Mariana case dispute

Harris Pogust, co-founder of City law firm Pogust Goodhead, has filed notice to remove his name from the firm after it sued 420,000 claimants in the Mariana dam collapse case. Pogust said on LinkedIn on Wednesday he was “embarrassed” to have his name on legal documents demanding costs from impoverished clients seeking to switch firms. Co-founder Tom Goodhead has made the same request.

Why Pogust is demanding his name be removed

Pogust Goodhead filed a claim against its own clients this month after Bailey Glasser International, led by former partners from Pogust Goodhead, said it would replace the firm as solicitor for the Brazilian dam claimants. The firm demanded the 420,000 claimants pay its costs and expenses if they switched. Pogust said the action violated his 39-year principle of never suing clients. “This firm knows these people have nothing, no money, no homes, nothing, but they still file a claim form demanding such relief,” he wrote.

The Mariana case and the firm’s internal breakdown

Pogust Goodhead handled the largest group claim in UK history against mining giant BHP over the 2015 Mariana dam collapse in Brazil. The case involves 420,000 claimants seeking compensation. Tom Goodhead, the other co-founder, was ejected from the firm and has now joined Bailey Glasser International. Quinn Emmanuel was appointed to run the damages phase, signalling internal power struggles over the case direction.

Pogust’s departure and return to the dispute

Pogust left Pogust Goodhead in 2024 after media coverage of his private jet usage and seafront mansion. He said he would focus on philanthropic work. He has now re-entered the fray after learning of the firm’s decision to sue its own clients. Both Pogust and Goodhead have demanded the firm stop using their names, signalling a complete breakdown between the founders and current management.

What happens next for the firm’s rebrand

Pogust intends to file a cease-and-desist order to have his name removed from all firm materials. Tom Goodhead has made the same demand. The firm will need to rebrand, stripping the Pogust name from its identity. The timing comes as the firm faces reputational damage from suing impoverished claimants and losing both founders’ backing over its conduct in the Mariana case.

Final Thoughts

Pogust Goodhead faces a forced rebrand after both co-founders disowned the firm over its decision to sue 420,000 claimants seeking alternative representation. The split exposes deep divisions over ethics and control of the £36bn Mariana case.

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