Pogust Goodhead adds Quinn partner to boost Mariana dam litigation team

Pogust Goodhead has appointed commercial litigator Gemma Anderson as a partner, strengthening its senior leadership team on the Mariana dam litigation as the case progresses through the High Court in London.

Anderson joins from Quinn Emanuel and will work alongside Jonathan Wheeler, who joined the firm in November to lead the Mariana for the firm. The pair previously worked together for 14 years at Morrison Foerster.

A key moment

Her arrival comes as the Mariana case enters its damages phase following a High Court ruling in November that Slaughters-advised BHP was liable for the 2015 Mariana dam collapse in Brazil, handing Pogust Goodhead a major victory in the UK’s largest-ever group action.

Following the ruling, BHP hired HSF Kramer to replace Slaughter and May.

The case involves more than 600,000 Brazilian claimants and is valued at around £36 billion.

What they said

Alicia Alinia, chief executive at Pogust Goodhead, said: “Her arrival is a clear signal of the team and platform we are building for the future - deep expertise, strong leadership, and the capacity to run major international cases at scale.”

Wheeler said: “We worked closely for fourteen years at Morrison Foerster, and I’ve seen first-hand the rigour and relentless drive she brings to complex cross-border matters. Her appointment strengthens our ability to deliver for clients as we build on the milestone liability decision and move into the next phase of the case.”

Joiner Anderson said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Pogust Goodhead at such a pivotal moment for the Mariana litigation. This is a truly landmark case - not only for the communities affected, but for what it represents globally on access to justice and corporate accountability.”