| “ | Scottie: I forgot how provincial Pearson Hardman was. One office. One city. Harvey: One office. The city. |
” |
—Dana Scott and Harvey Specter | ||
Pearson Hardman LLP (later unofficially known as Pearson) was one of the top three major New York City law firms. Established in 2003 by Daniel Hardman and Jessica Pearson after they took over control of Gordon Schmidt Van Dyke, Hardman operated as the firm's leader until he was caught for embezzling money from the firm and its clients. After it was revealed that he was using the money to fund an extramarital affair with an associate and cheating on his cancer-ridden wife, Hardman was blackmailed into stepping down and naming Jessica as his success in 2007, under the threat of exposing the affair to his wife, and Jessica became the firm's newest managing partner.
The firm flourished for the next five years; however, when Alicia Hardman succumbed to her breast cancer in 2012, Hardman returned to the firm, creating wedges in the firm dynamic and succeeding in ousting Jessica as managing partner, although his leadership was very brief after he was ousted by Harvey Specter and his associate, Mike Ross.
Soon after the dismissal of Hardman, Allison Holt and Robert Zane (with the help of Hardman himself) filed 45 different cases against Pearson Hardman, aware of the fact that the firm did not have the financial resources needed to handle the caseload. Jessica then removed Hardman's name from the firm, unofficially renaming it as Pearson. However, Hardman's actions led to Jessica merging the firm with British lawyer Edward Darby's Darby International, creating Pearson Darby.
The firm was renamed as Pearson Darby Specter upon Harvey's promotion to name partner, renamed soon as Pearson Specter when the merger became undone, Pearson Specter Litt when Louis Litt became a name partner, Specter Litt when Jessica left, Zane Specter Litt when Robert Zane joined, renamed again as Zane Specter Litt Wheeler Williams and is currently known as Litt Wheeler Williams Bennett.
History
The firm before Pearson Hardman
In 2003, the firm was named Gordon Schmidt Van Dyke. Shortly before Harvey had left the D.A.'s office, Jessica Pearson and Daniel Hardman successfully staged a coup against Gordon, Schmidt, and Van Dyke, thus creating Pearson Hardman.
By-laws
- Pearson Hardman shall strictly hire only associates that graduated from Harvard Law.
- The founding partners may each name one junior partner to be promoted to senior partnership every year.
- Should the managing partner, for whatever reason, step down from his/her position, he/she shall name a successor as new managing partner.
- Fraudulently suing the firm is grounds for dismissal.
Senior Partnership
- Every year, a junior partner may be named by each founding partner to be promoted to a senior partner.
- Should a junior partner be selected, he/she shall buy out a share of Pearson Hardman worth $500,000 to be promoted to senior partner.
- It is a tradition that a senior partner hires an associate upon their promotion.
Traditions
- An annual mock trial that shall give newly hired associates a chance to a good impression on the partners.
- A rookie dinner, where a new associate hosts a dinner for the other associates and the partners of Pearson Hardman.
- A senior partner may choose a personal associate for themselves.
Known Members
The original firm wall in the first episode
Partners
Senior Partners
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The firm's name wall
Hardman's name removed off the wall
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The name wall featured in the second intro
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The updated wall featured in the second intro
- Jessica Pearson (name partner, managing partner)
- Daniel Hardman (name partner, former managing partner)
- Harvey Specter
- Louis Litt
- Watson
- Klyman
- Gallo
- Goldberg
- Paul Porter
- Carson
- Fogerty
- Hanson (formerly; left for the Justice Department)
- Reeger
Associates
Senior Associates
- Katrina Bennett
- Monica Eton (formerly; fired)
- Zoe Lawford (formerly; resigned)
- Clarke (formerly; fired after choosing Bratton Gould)
- Owens (formerly; fired after choosing to Bratton Gould)
- McKinney (formerly; defected to Bratton Gould)
- Kline (formerly; defected to Bratton Gould)
Junior Associates
- Mike Ross
- Kyle Durant
- Seth Keller
- Harold Gunderson (formerly; fired)
- Jimmy Kirkwood (formerly; resigned)
- O'Neil
- Racine
- Sabatini
Eric Cheng
Paralegals
- Rachel Zane
- Missy Dietler
Assistants
- Donna Paulsen
- Norma
- Cameron (temporary assistant)