Jet-set Life Of Global Lawyers Taking On Australia s Biggest Companies

Crusading international lawyers targeting mining giant BHP in a $70billion lawsuit have set up shop in Sydney with ambitions to 'put Australian corporations In the event you loved this informative article and you wish to get more information regarding casino enligne generously check out our own page. on notice'.

Pogust Goodhead founders Thomas Goodhead and casino enligne Harris Pogust proudly boast of their plans to make their lawyers some of the highest paid on the planet.

They do so by specifically investing their time in high-return class actions, pocketing 50 per cent of the payouts which can - and have - been worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Mr Pogust's public social media accounts offer a fascinating insight into the lavish lifestyle his successful career has brought him.

He and his wife Carrie share snaps flying by private jet, enjoying cocktails on luxury boats and travelling interstate just for a slap-up meal. 

The business partners are currently going head-to-head with BHP in the UK over the Samarco mine disaster in Brazil, which cost 19 people their lives and contaminated waterways and land spanning multiple villages.

In all, there are 700,000 claimants and casino enligne the case could be worth $70billion in damages.




Mr Pogust's public social media accounts offer an insight into the lavish lifestyle afforded to him on the back of his successful career





In November 2023, he shared details of his new property - a sprawling six bedroom, eight bathroom mansion boasting a pool, gym and wine cellar











Pogust Goodhead founders Thomas Goodhead and Harris Pogust proudly boast of their plans to make their lawyers some of the highest paid on the planet

Mr Goodhead was also in Australia twice in 2023 to meet with MPs, unions and super funds over the litigation.

As part of their commitment to that case, they've set up an office in Sydney, headed by commercial disputes specialist Amie Crichton.

Ms Crichton cut her teeth on the other side of litigation, defending class actions on behalf of insurers for casino enligne eight years. 

Speaking to law.com, she said that experience gives her a strategic advantage in prosecuting future class actions.

She said it had given her a much deeper understanding of how corporations seek to defend such matters - and how to counter that.

Now they are eyeing up a series of Australian business giants, aiming to hold them to account over their responsibility to exhibit 'basic decency and fairness' to their community. 

'We are investigating a number of new cases against Australian multinational corporations, such as BHP, in which their commitment to this responsibility has been seriously thrown into question,' said Mr Goodhead.

'With the launch of our Sydney office, we are putting Australian corporations on notice that we are ready to hold them to account.

'We are establishing a base in BHP's backyard to ensure we explore every avenue in our fight for justice for victims.'




Mr Pogust and his wife live the  high life according to social media 





He shared another photo of his laptop overlooking the ocean

He singled out the mining sector for its 'vital role in ensuring the availability of increasingly important rare and critical minerals'.

Ms Cricton said the firm won't discriminate, and has 'various sectors within our purview'.

The legal eagles say areas they're targeting include the mining and resources sector, human rights issues, corporate misconduct, environmental issues and consumer law. 

'Specialists in the class action sector are becoming a little bit more creative and willing to attempt to find recourse through different channels,' she said. 

Mr Goodhead, who is both Oxford and Cambridge educated, spoke in February about the expansion and their current litigation portfolio.

He said winning one or more of the major litigations would see his team become 'the highest-paid lawyers in the country by quiet some margin'.

And several months earlier in an interview with the Law Gazette in November 2023, Mr Goodhead spoke openly about his company's capitalist ambitions.

'We are here to make a profit,' he said bluntly.

'This isn't an NGO though I know we look like one. We are here to make a profit... I've got trainee solicitors earning 150k.'




The business partners are currently going head-to-head with BHP in the UK over the Samarco mine disaster in Brazil





As part of their commitment to that case, they've set up an office in Sydney, headed by commercial disputes specialist Amie Crichton (left)





New Jersey-born Harris Pogust offers the greatest insight into their high-flying lives

It's his co-founder and chairman, New Jersey-born Harris Pogust who offers the greatest insight into their high-flying lives.

Mr Pogust has 25 years' experience in litigation and class actions across the United States.

In November 2023, he shared details of his new property - a sprawling six-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion boasting a pool, gym and wine cellar. 

'After bidding on this house for the third time over the last 12 years we finally were able to purchase it and from a fellow lawyer no less,' he said.

'Hopefully this is the last move along with the Pygmy goats, miniature horses and a few other friends to add to the 7 dogs...'

A month prior he shared another photo of his laptop overlooking the ocean.

'Nothing like flying down for dinner than back home. The fun never ends...' he wrote, tagging his location at Philadelphia International Airport.

His wife has also shared photos of both Mr Pogust and the couple's dog on a private jet, as well as luxurious snaps on yachts.

The firm launched in 2018 and earned the title 'the first legal unicorn' after raising $300million in financial backing early on.




His wife has also shared photos of both Mr Pogust and the couple's dog on a private jet





His wife has also shared photos of both Mr Pogust and the couple's dog on a private jet

It now boasts 700 employees across five offices and has up to 27 current litigation claims.  

The litigation known as 'My Diesel Claim' was helmed by Pogust Goodhead, winning more than $AUD350million for nearly two million customers in a settlement against 14 carmakers who did not reveal the true emissions of their diesel products.

But there was backlash in June 2023 when the law firm sent a late-night email to claimants apologising for a mistake in the small print which indicated Pogust Goodhead's fee would be capped at 35 per cent of the profit, when it was actually 50 per cent.

A spokesperson said: 'An email has been sent out to all MyDieselClaim clients bringing their attention to an error that has been made in the small print of our conditional fee agreements.

'This relates to a reference of our fees being capped at 35%. This should, as it does in every other section, read 50%.'