Quinn Emanuel has been appointed to lead litigation on a £36bn claim against mining giant BHP, marking one of the largest class action cases in UK legal history.
London-based law firm Pogust Goodhead, which is leading the claim, announced Wednesday it has secured a strategic partnership with Quinn Emanuel alongside $150m of dedicated litigation funding.
The funding, totalling $150m, includes an initial tranche of $85m sourced from New York-based hedge fund Gramercy Funds Management, described as Pogust Goodhead’s primary funder.
The claim centres on the 2015 collapse of the Fundao dam in Brazil, a disaster operated by BHP and its joint-venture partner Vale, which killed 19 people and destroyed hundreds of villages.
More than 200,000 Brazilian citizens, hundreds of businesses, and 25 local municipalities originally brought the claim, making it one of the most sweeping environmental lawsuits ever filed in the English courts.
The case first entered the City’s courts in 2018 but did not proceed to trial until 2022, after BHP sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing proceedings would be duplicated in Brazil.
In November 2025, BHP was found responsible for the failings, and the Court of Appeal in May this year refused to allow the mining giant to pursue a further appeal against that finding.
Howard Morris, Chairman of Pogust Goodhead, said on Wednesday: “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.”
Pogust Goodhead praised its new partner, saying: “Quinn Emanuel is widely recognised for its resilience, tenacity and track record of success in some of the world’s most demanding disputes,” adding those qualities mirror Pogust Goodhead’s “own determination in pursuing justice and securing the best possible outcome for Mariana claimants.”
The announcement comes against a turbulent backdrop for Pogust Goodhead, which rebranded from PGMBM, as the firm has experienced an exodus of lawyers resigning in recent months over concerns linked to Gramercy and the source of a £500m investment made in 2023.
Senior partner Tom Ainsworth, who originally led the BHP litigation, removed himself from the case over concerns the hedge fund was inappropriately involved in the firm’s cases and operations.
The partnership with Quinn Emanuel signals an attempt by Pogust Goodhead to stabilise its position and project confidence as the litigation moves into its critical compensation phase.