Regularly working on significant, cross-border mandates, Pogust Goodhead’s team specialises in challenging alleged environmental breaches by major global corporations, particularly on claims originating in Brazil. Tom Goodhead, one of the firm’s founding partners, continues to lead major group litigation actions, and is praised for going 'to great lengths to achieve results for his clients'. Disputes lawyer Céline Barnwell - 'a dedicated and tenacious South America specialist' - acts in litigation and arbitration matters across jurisdictions in areas including energy and natural resources. Other key figures include Jeremy Evans, Christopher Neill, and Tom Ainsworth, all of whom specialise in complex high-value, often international litigation.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team is very international. It is very inspiring to find lawyers from so many different legal backgrounds in one firm. This international mindset sets the basis for thinking out of the box solutions. The team is very responsive and – if required – is able to tackle tasks under time pressure.’
‘Tom Goodhead: He is knowledgeable, responsive and pragmatic. He can be relied upon to find practical solutions to very complex legal challenges. He runs a great team and is able to build bridges for lawyers from different jurisdictions.’
Key clients
- Municipio de Mariana and over 700,000 other individuals and businesses in Brazil as part of the Litigation against BHP
- M. R. F. da S. & Ors v Braskem & Ors (“Braskem”)
Work highlights
- Representing over 700,000 claimants (including municipalities, individuals, businesses, utilities, faith-based organisations and indigenous tribes) in a litigation against two entities of the BHP group.
- Issued proceedings against Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem S.A. and its Dutch subsidiaries over significant socio-environmental destruction (including an earthquake) caused by its mining activities in the city of Maceio, Brazil.