Legal debts totaling £2.2 million allegedly unpaid by law firm Pogust Goodhead subjected to lawsuit.
London-based law firm Seladore Legal has launched a legal action against Pogust Goodhead, a leading collective action firm, seeking £2.2 million in unpaid legal bills. The lawsuit, which was filed in the English High Court earlier this month, alleges that Pogust Goodhead has failed to pay outstanding bills accrued from two retainers with Seladore Legal, totaling £978,411.03.
According to the claim form, Seladore Legal, founded by former lawyers from Herbert Smith Freehills, engaged with Pogust Goodhead on 10 May 2023, for two work streams. Between 12 May 2023 and 2 October 2024, Seladore issued 20 interim invoices for the retainers at a 'discounted fee rate.' Although Pogust Goodhead has paid 15 interim invoices totaling £886,048.23, five invoices are alleged to remain unpaid, amounting to £92,362.80.
In April 2025, Seladore Legal issued a "final statute bill" to Pogust Goodhead, which came to £3,095,874.63, but the firm has not paid any of the amounts outstanding under the final statute bills. As a result, Seladore Legal is now suing, seeking £2.2m, along with interest exceeding £4,000.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Pogust Goodhead stated that the claim brought by Seladore Limited is "entirely without merit." They went on to express confidence that the court will dismiss this "unfounded and opportunistic claim."
Pogust Goodhead made headlines earlier this year as the lead firm in a landmark class action trial at London's High Court against Anglo-Australian mining firm BHP, over the 2015 Mariana dam disaster in southeastern Brazil. However, last week, it was reported that the Brazilian Federal Public Ministry, along with a few public defenders, filed a civil public action against Pogust Goodhead and its Brazilian partners. The firm has responded, stating that the public civil action was filed "without merit."
In light of the ongoing legal proceedings, both Pogust Goodhead and Seladore Legal were contacted for comments but did not respond by the time of publishing.
The financial dispute between Seladore Legal and Pogust Goodhead escalated as Seladore Legal filed a lawsuit in the English High Court, seeking £2.2 million in unpaid legal bills. This business-related lawsuit stems from two retainers, where Seladore Legal claims that Pogust Goodhead has failed to settle five interim invoices totaling £92,362.80, in addition to outstanding amounts under a final statute bill.
