Pogust Goodhead is particularly renowned for its work on large-scale group litigation, with members of the team skilled at handling environmental, consumer, and human rights class actions. The team regularly handles novel and complex litigation, often linked to public health systems and medical devices. Practice head Tom Goodhead leads on many of the most complex disputes undertaken by the team, acting against multinational corporations. Other key figures include Jeremy Evans, who focuses on cross-border litigation, and Christopher Neill, skilled at handling product liability and data protection matters. Guy Robson and Céline Barnwell specialise in environmental litigation.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Key clients
- Municipio de Mariana and over 600,000 other individuals and businesses in Brazil as part of the Litigation against BHP (“Mariana” or “BHP”) M. R. F. da S. & Ors v Braskem & Ors (“Braskem”) The Municipality of Brumadinho & Ors.v TÜV SÜD AG (“Brumadinho”) Flavio de Carvalho Pinto Viegas & Ors (“Cutrale”) Cainquiama & Ors.v Norsk Hydro Group (“Norsk Hydro Group”) Stichting Rio Doce – over 77,000 individuals, circa 1k businesses, 20 churches, plus 7 municipalities vs. Vale S.A. and others. Over 45,000 individuals and businesses who owned/leased or otherwise acquired a Volkswagen, SEAT, Skoda, Audi or Porsche diesel vehicle in the Volkswagen NOx Emissions Group Litigation (No. 2) Over 280,000 individuals and businesses who owned/leased or otherwise acquired a Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicle in the Mercedes-Benz NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 199,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a Vauxhall/Opel diesel vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by Vauxhall /Opel in the Vauxhall NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 179,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a Peugeot/Citroen diesel vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by Peugeot/Citroen in the Peugeot/Citroen/DS NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 40,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a Fiat Chrysler and/or Suzuki diesel vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by Fiat/Chrysler or Suzuki in the Fiat/Chrysler/Suzuki NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 115,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a Jaguar or Land Rover diesel No vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by Jaguar Land Rover in the Jaguar Land Rover NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 210,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a Renault or Nissan diesel vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by Renault/Nissan in the Renault/Nissan NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 230,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a BMW diesel vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by BMW in the BMW NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 249,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a Ford diesel vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by Ford in the Ford NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 40,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased leased or otherwise acquired a Volvo diesel vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by Volvo in the Volvo NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 12,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a Mazda diesel vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by Mazda in the Mazda NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 17,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a Toyota diesel vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by Toyota in the Toyota NOx Emissions Group Litigation Over 96,000 individuals and businesses who have purchased, leased or otherwise acquired a Hyundai or Kia diesel vehicle, manufactured and/or supplied by Hyundai/Kia in the Hyundai/Kia NOx Emissions Group Litigation
Work highlights
Representing over 640,000 claimants (including municipalities, individuals, businesses, utilities, faith-based organisations and indigenous tribes) in a landmark litigation against two entities of the BHP group which at the time of writing is still dually listed in England and Australia. At the heart of this matter is the 2015 ‘Fundão Dam collapse’ in South-eastern Brazil, involving 50 million cubic metres of iron ore tailings being washed into the Doce River with massive human, environmental, and economic cost.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Christopher Neill
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Pete Gallagher
Practice head
Tom Goodhead
Other key lawyers
Jeremy Evans; Christopher Neill; Guy Robson; Céline Barnwell
