Pogust Goodhead confirms name change as namesake co-founder turns on the firm

Pogust Goodhead is changing its name after co-founder Harris Pogust demanded that the claimant firm stop using his name and launched a public attack on its handling of the battle over the Mariana litigation.

A Pogust Goodhead spokesperson confirmed the firm intends to move away from the name, with both founders whose names make up Pogust Goodhead now outside the business.

“Harris Pogust has had no involvement in the management or operation of this firm for approximately three years, and neither former founder has any role in running the business today,” the spokesperson told Non-Billable.

“We intend to move away from the Pogust Goodhead name. The firm has moved on from its former leadership and its name should too.”

Pogust said he had sent notice that he intends to pursue a cease-and-desist to remove his name from anything associated with the firm.

His intervention centres on the dispute over who should represent more than 400,000 claimants in the Mariana dam litigation.

The client fight

In a LinkedIn post, Pogust criticised his former firm over a claim form that he said named clients as defendants and sought costs and expenses if they switched law firms.

He questioned how Pogust Goodhead could seek relief against Mariana victims while at the same time asking the court to allow it to continue representing them.

“You are suing someone you are asking the court to allow you to continue to represent?” Pogust wrote. He pointed to claimants who lost homes, livelihoods and family members in the disaster, arguing that the firm knew many had little money.

“I have never in my 39 year career sued a client,” Pogust wrote. “The thought has actually never crossed my mind.”

“I was embarrassed to have my name anywhere on that document,” he added.

Both founders out

Pogust co-founded the business that ultimately became Pogust Goodhead with Tom Goodhead and served as its chairman before stepping down in 2024.

Both founders whose names make up Pogust Goodhead are now outside the firm.

Goodhead was ousted as chief executive last year and returned to the Mariana litigation earlier this month, joining rival firm BGI alongside more than 15 lawyers with experience on the case as the rival firms fight over who should represent the claimants.

Picking a side

Pogust also appeared to throw his support behind BGI in the fight over the Mariana case.

“If you have any doubt which firm I support moving forward you shouldn’t,” he wrote.

He said he had told certain people involved in the litigation that he would work pro bono through to the conclusion of the case to help the claimants secure the best possible outcome.