Want to work on some of the

biggest cases

in the world ?

We want 20 skilled and experienced lawyers to join the most ambitious and exciting law firm in the world. We want people who are passionate about providing justice and unafraid of challenges. Join us and make a difference with your career.

Join our Team

Want to work on some of the

biggest cases

in the world?

We want 20 skilled and experienced lawyers to join the most ambitious and exciting law firm in the world. We want people who are passionate about providing justice and unafraid of challenges. Join us and make a difference with your career. 

Join our Team

Why work for us?

This is a unique opportunity to make a sizable impact on a landmark case while also advancing your career as a litigation lawyer. 

In July 2022, we secured a unanimous landmark judgment from the Court of Appeal that allowed victims of the Mariana Dam disaster, Brazil’s worst-ever environmental disaster, to seek redress against the world’s largest mining company, BHP, in the Courts of England and Wales.  

Since then, our claim has grown to become the largest opt-in class action in the world, and we are now representing over 700,000 clients including individuals, municipalities, businesses, Indigenous communities and faith-based institutions. 

This case is about environmental damage, accountability for human rights as well as ensuring corporate accountability. Most importantly, it reinforces the legal precedent that companies that cause damage abroad can be held accountable where they are headquartered.  

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Learn about the

THE MARIANA DAM DISASTER

and hear from Chief Peru

The case so far

In November 2015, a dam in the state of Minas Gerais burst and sent over 40 million cubic metres of toxic mining waste into the surrounding areas. The mining waste contained heavy metals, arsenic, mercury, nickel and aluminium, and eventually flowed into nearly 700km of waterways along the River Doce. It killed 19 people and obliterated everything in its way.  

The river was used by more than 13 million people for irrigation and drinking and was left irreparably damaged as the waste made its way towards the coast, contaminating 170km of beaches.  

The impact of the disaster continues to this day and the tailings not having been removed. People’s livelihoods are still devastated, and businesses and municipalities have been left nursing billions of dollars in losses. 

At the time of the disaster, BHP (then BHP Billiton) was a dual listed company on the Australian and London Stock Exchanges. Despite BHP’s numerous attempts to throw out the case, or delay it by years, Pogust Goodhead have managed to make progress. In April 2023, the Judge decided once again to progress the claim, despite BHP’s efforts to delay a trial by up to 14 months. BHP’s appeal of this ruling was refused in June 2023, meaning BHP executives will be forced to account for their role in the disaster in the English Courts come October 2024. 

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The opportunity

Pogust Goodhead is at the cutting edge of environmental and human rights litigation and is already a reputable voice in this practice area in the UK and across the world. By being involved in our claim against BHP, you could make legal history in two critical ways. 

Firstly, Pogust Goodhead has fought hard to have this case heard in England, despite  BHP’s claim that the British claim is a duplication of proceedings in Brazil. This could open the door to many more such cases.  

Secondly, this is by far the largest opt-in class action in the world. We are representing over 700,000 Brazilians in England and we believe BHP is on the hook for £36 billion in damages to the victims in Brazil. Pogust Goodhead is leading the way in the litigation arena here in the UK and you could be involved in many similar cases that have the potential to revolutionise the legal industry. 

As an Associate or Senior Associate with a passion for environmental and human rights litigation, you will travel to Brazil and work closely with our international colleagues and our clients.  

You will be working on some of the biggest group litigation cases in the world, and you will play a pivotal role in representing our clients and advocating for their rights and interests. 

.  

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Hear from our CEO

“These roles are for people who want to be part of something huge.

“Our case against BHP is not just about holding multinationals accountable for environmental damage – it is also about protecting human rights against far powerful corporate forces.

“We hope this case sends a clear message to large multinational companies that they cannot avoid responsibility for the consequences of their operations. They can and should be held to account when their activities have a negative impact on people’s lives elsewhere.

“We want talent from all over the UK, not just those with the means to live in London. You could be based in Salisbury, Exeter, Manchester or Hull – if you fit our profile, we want you to work for us.

“Your exceptional legal acumen, strategic thinking, and meticulous attention to detail will be instrumental in developing and executing effective litigation strategies are all we are looking for.”

Tom Goodhead, CEO

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We’re looking for Associates and Senior Associates who can:

  • Manage large, complex, and contentious cases, including multi-jurisdictional disputes in a fast-paced environment
  • Work closely with partners and lawyers to deliver exceptionally high standards of work
  • Advise on case strategy aligned with the client’s interests
  • Develop and maintain relationships with external counsel, expert witnesses, financial partners, and other external parties
  • Supervise junior associates and trainees and provide them with adequate mentoring and training
  • Degree educated from a UK, ideally equivalent to a 1st or a high 2.1
  • Min 2-5+ PQE or equivalent with the majority of experience gained in an English litigation practice
  • Strong technical skills with proven experience in complex English litigation
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to understand the client’s needs and an ability to adapt the best-case strategy
  • Excellent knowledge of the English civil procedure rules and managing proceedings in the English courts
  • Great attention to detail and accuracy to produce work that is consistently of a high standard
  • Be highly organised and able to work well independently as well as collaboratively
  • Experience in supervising and mentoring junior associates/paralegals
  • Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by previous collaborative work with external and internal parties
  • Demonstrate a flexible approach to work to ensure client deadlines are met, and clients are communicated with efficiently
  • Solid organisational skills, file management, and time/record keeping
  • Confident communicator able to work calmly under pressure
  • Have empathy and passion for the clients we represent

Desirable

  • Previous pro-bono or social justice/human rights work
  • Portuguese language skills
  • International driver’s license

What is it like working at Pogust Goodhead?

At Pogust Goodhead we believe in championing personal growth and achievements, but first and foremost, we’re also a team, and a team is strongest when everyone feels that they are supported and valued as individuals.

We know that our team are the heart of Pogust Goodhead and that is why we make the following commitment to all our people:

  • To be a meritocracy with a fair and transparent pay review process
  • To offer opportunities for internal promotion
  • To provide everyone with a fair and structured performance review process
  • To provide a learning environment that supports its employees in becoming experts in their roles
  • To give all Pogust Goodhead’s people opportunities to influence and improve how we work

We are an equal opportunities employer who believes passionately that our team should represent the diversity of the clients that we support. We are committed to providing a place of work that provides fair and equal career growth and learning opportunities to all its employees. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind within our company and we celebrate creating a culture offering opportunity for all, regardless of race, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation, socio economic background, disability or religious beliefs.

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Apply now and join us in fighting for justice and delivering unparalleled legal representation.

Associate

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Senior Associate

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