The new logo is on some of the firm’s social media
Class action law firm Pogust Goodhead (PG) is changing its name back to PGMBM so as to remove the surnames of its founders – but their initials live on.
There has been no official statement or timeline, but Legal Futures has had the decision confirmed.
Indeed, a new logo has appeared on the firm’s Instagram and Facebook profiles, but not on its website or LinkedIn and YouTube accounts.
In response to a LinkedIn post by Harris Pogust [1], saying he had asked for his name to be removed, PG confirmed last month that it intended to ditch its name, saying “the firm has moved on from its former leadership and its name should too”.
It was reported that Tom Goodhead – who has now turned up on the other side of PG’s landmark Mariana Dam case – had also asked for it.
The original version
The pair launched the firm in 2018 in Liverpool as SPG Law [2] before it became PGMBM in 2020 [3] – representing the first letter of each of the then five partners’ surnames, adding Brazilian lawyers Pedro Henrique Martins, Gabriella Bianchini and Tomás Mousinho. None of them are at the firm anymore either.
It then switched to Pogust Goodhead as a trading style but PGMBM remains the official company name.
Writing on LinkedIn yesterday, Mr Pogust said: “I guess my letter worked. The firm has taken my name off… Hey Pedro, Gabi and Tomas welcome back I guess!!
“Is it me or is this beyond silly. I really appreciate the compliment of not being able to let go of that P but please please there has to be someone there that you can name the firm after other than the original 5 none of which are there any longer and haven’t been for years.”
Mr Pogust questioned whether the change would actually alleviate client confusion, however. “Shoot, I am more confused and it’s my name. Well, luckily I didn’t throw away the golf shirts or sweatshirts with the logo on it. I knew they would come in handy one day!! This gets sillier by the day people.”
The current but slowly disappearing logo
Mr Goodhead announced last month [4] that he had joined Bailey Glasser International – a new joint venture between an English law firm run by former PG staff and US firm Bailey & Glasser – which claims now to be the claimant solicitors in the Mariana Dam litigation after the client committee decided to change representation.
PG has challenged its authority [5] to do this and an expedited hearing was held this week.