Wikipedia

Pogust Goodhead

Pogust Goodhead (formerly PGMBM) is a British law firm, headquartered in London, England. It is a class-action law firm that has won notable settlements for consumer claims. Pogust Goodhead focuses on environmental law, consumer protection, and human rights.[1] In December 2024, it was announced that co-founder Harris Pogust had left the firm.[2]

History

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In 2018, Thomas Goodhead and Harris Pogust founded SPG Law, a claimant law firm in Liverpool, England.[3][4]SPG Law sat under US parent firm Sanders Phillips Grossman and specialised in group litigation related to consumer, pharmaceutical, and environmental cases.[5]

In 2018, SPG filed a class action lawsuit in British courts against BHP and Vale regarding the Samarco Mariana dam disaster.[6][7][8]Close to 700,000 people were represented in the lawsuit.[9][10][11] Pogust Goodhead's costs in the case are expected to be around £250 million.[12] The lawsuit against Vale, was £3 billion and includes Dutch litigation boutique Lemstra Van der Korst for its role in this disaster.[13][14][15]

In 2020, SPG Law split from Sanders Phillips Grossman to become PGMBM to focus on the wider Latin American market for litigation in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.[16]

In 2021 PGMBM launched MyDieselClaim to coordinate efforts against vehicle manufacturers involved in the Dieselgate scandal.[17]  Pogust Goodhead has handled diesel-related cases against Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Citroen, Cupra, DS, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes,[18] Mini, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Suzuki,Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Volvo.[19][20]

In 2022, PGMBM was renamed Pogust Goodhead.[21] The firm gained publicity for winning a part of a £193m settlement from Volkswagen on behalf of 15,000 claimants.[22][23] In 2022, the firm also opened offices in Rio de Janeiro and San Diego.[21][17]

MyDieselClaim attracted criticism in 2023 for writing to clients to correct paperwork which has incorrectly stated its fees were capped at 35% of damages rather than 50%.[17][7]

In February 2024, the firm announced the launch of its Australian office in Sydney.[24]

In October 2023, Pogust Goodhead announced a US$552.5 million financing deal from US-based Gramercy Funds Management to fund high profile environmental group actions including the Mariana dam case.[25] The investment was dubbed "the largest worldwide investment in a law firm". It was subsequently reported that Gramercy stood to earn $135 million per annum from the deal.[26] In November 2024, Pogust Goodhead announced that they had received an further loan from Gramercy Funds Management.[27]

In July 2024, a UK High Court cut £343m forcast claimant legal costs by 75% for Dieselgate claims led predominately by Pogust Goodhead, describing their proposed costings as "absurd" and "over-lawyering". [28]

In October 2024, Pogust Goodhead were accused of trying to use the English judicial system to rewrite Brazilian law.[29]

In November 2024, Pogust Goodhead denied claims from Brazilian lawyer and former ambassador to the UK and US, Rubens Barbosa, that the Mariana dam case was "a matter of Brazilian sovereignty" and that the case should not be "judged twice" following the Brazilian government settlement of the matter with the mining companies.[30] On 15 November 2024, the High Court ruled that Dieselgate claims could proceed against Mercedes Benz - with Pogust Goodhead and Leigh Day representing claimants.[31] Later that month, Pogust Goodhead announced a redundancy programme, set to affect up to 20% of current staff.[32]

References

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  1. ↑ "Repsol faces second lawsuit in Peru over oil spill". ETEnergyworld.com. Jan 16, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  2. ↑ December 4, Rachel Rippetoe ·; 2024; Gmt, 9:53 Pm. "Pogust Goodhead US Chairman Leaves The Firm - Law360 Pulse". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "The Ethical Dilemmas Festering in Elite Law Practices". Market Business News. 2024-05-15. Archived from the original on 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  4. ↑ "Cancel culture is preventing Tavistock victims from speaking out, says City lawyer". The Telegraph. 2024-01-27. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  5. ↑ "Liverpool mayor hails ambitious offshoot of US class action firm". Law Gazette. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  6. ↑ "Class action juggernaut with $800m war chest is here". Australian Financial Review. 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Pogust Goodhead to open in Sydney amid multi-billion-dollar BHP class action claim". www.globallegalpost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  8. ↑ "BHP, miners warned more class actions are in the pipeline". The West Australian. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  9. ↑ "Pogust Goodhead Takes Fight for Restitution Over Brazilian Mining Disaster to the Netherlands". Law.com International. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  10. ↑ Harkavy, Rob. "CDR - Commercial Dispute Resolution". Arbitration,Litigation,Dispute Resolution | CDR Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  11. ↑ "Pogust Goodhead Sees More Demand for Class Actions in Australia". Law.com International. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  12. ↑ "Lawyer fees for class action against BHP top $680 million". Australian Financial Review. 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  13. ↑ "Class action specialists secure biggest ever law firm financing deal". Legal Futures. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  14. ↑ "Vale faces US$3.8 billion lawsuit in the Netherlands". latinlawyer.com. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  15. ↑ "Vale Faces $3.8 Billion Dutch Lawsuit Over Brazilian Dam Collapse". Bloomberg.com. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  16. ↑ "Class action firm splits from US partner as it targets Brazil". Legal Futures. 2020-05-14. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Diesel claim clients unhappy as firm corrects fees "error" in paperwork". Legal Futures. 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  18. ↑ "Judges decline to order funding agreement disclosure in 'dieselgate' claim". Law Gazette. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  19. ↑ "Martin Lewis warns people could be owed £1000s if they own a diesel car". My London. 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  20. ↑ "Diesel emission claims - Have or had a diesel car made between 2009 and 2020? Should you join the millions who have signed up to legal claims?". Moneysavingexpert. April 30, 2024.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Plaintiffs Firm PGMBM, Rebranded as Pogust Goodhead, Opens Office in Brazil as Mining Disaster Litigation Grinds On". Law.com International. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  22. ↑ "Should you file a diesel emissions claim and how?". moneyweekuk. 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  23. ↑ "Volkswagen to pay out £193m in 'dieselgate' settlement". 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  24. ↑ "UK class actions firm Pogust Goodhead opens Australian office". Lawyerly. 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  25. ↑ Cross2023-10-02T11:22:00+01:00, Michael. "First legal 'unicorn' in $552m funding deal". Law Gazette. Retrieved 2024-09-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ↑ "Hedge fund betting on class actions banks on $135m profit a year". Australian Financial Review. 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  27. ↑ Tinson, Annabel (2024-11-12). "Pogust Goodhead goes to financial backers for more cash on top of $550m loan". The Lawyer | Legal insight, benchmarking data and jobs. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  28. ↑ Rose, Neil (2024-07-07). "Judges slash "absurd" £343m budget for first part of diesel cars claim". Legal Futures. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  29. ↑ "Dam burst legal firm are 'trying to rewrite Brazilian law'". Court News UK. 23/10/24. Retrieved 01/11/24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)
  30. ↑ Editor, Jonathan Ames, Legal (2024-11-05). "Law firm rejects accusations over BHP Brazil dam settlement". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2024-11-07. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. ↑ Turner, Aimee. "High Court ruling allows 'Dieselgate' claims against Mercedes-Benz in the UK". www.am-online.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  32. ↑ Hyde2024-11-28T16:22:00+00:00, John. "Class action disruptor Pogust Goodhead set to axe 150 staff". Law Gazette. Retrieved 2024-12-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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