Pogust Goodhead, the international law firm specialising in group litigation, today announces a new funding facility of up to $150 million from Gramercy Funds Management, with an initial tranche of $85 million, alongside a strategic partnership with Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, widely regarded as one of the world’s premier litigation firms.
The funding is dedicated exclusively to the Mariana Dam disaster litigation, in which Pogust Goodhead acts for the claimants against the mining giant, BHP, in one of the largest group actions in English legal history. Liability was conclusively established in a decision of the High Court in November 2025, which held BHP responsible for Brazil’s largest environmental disaster. The Court of Appeal recently handed down a judgment refusing BHP’s application for permission to appeal the High Court’s landmark liability judgment.
With liability established, the proceedings now enter the Quantum phase, during which the level of compensation due to the hundreds of thousands of claimants will be determined. The securing of financial backing from Gramercy for the Quantum phase, together with the partnership for the BHP case with Quinn Emanuel, will enable Pogust Goodhead to achieve a long-awaited resolution for those affected by the disaster.
Quinn Emanuel is widely recognised for its resilience, tenacity and track record of success in some of the world’s most demanding disputes. These qualities mirror Pogust Goodhead’s own determination in pursuing justice and securing the best possible outcome for Mariana claimants.
Led by Partner Justin Michaelson, the Quinn Emanuel team will work alongside Pogust Goodhead to manage and execute a coordinated strategy through the Quantum phase of the proceedings, combining Quinn Emanuel’s experience in complex, high-stakes global litigation with Pogust Goodhead’s deep expertise in cross-border group actions and unparalleled knowledge of the case.
Howard Morris, Chairman of Pogust Goodhead, said:
“For more than a decade, our clients have fought for accountability. With liability now established and BHP’s attempts to challenge that finding rejected, the focus turns to securing the compensation they deserve and bringing this case to a long-awaited resolution.
The support of Gramercy and our partnership with Quinn Emanuel ensure we have the resources, expertise and resolve to deliver the outcome our clients have waited for more than a decade to achieve.”
Justin Michaelson, Partner at Quinn Emanuel, said:
“This is one of the most significant group actions ever brought before the English courts. PG has achieved a landmark result in establishing liability, and we are proud to join them at this pivotal stage.
Together, our focus is clear: to secure the strongest possible outcome for the claimants and help bring this long-running litigation to a successful conclusion.”
