Pearson Hardman was a New York law firm on the USA Network show Suits. Established in 2003 by Daniel Hardman and Jessica Pearson, 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. This led to Jessica merging the firm with British lawyer Edward Darby's Darby International, creating Pearson Darby. However, the firm was then renamed shortly to Pearson Darby Specter upon Harvey Specter's promotion to name partner, and then soon renamed soon again as Pearson Specter when the merger became undone. A few years later, it was renamed to Pearson Specter Litt when Louis Litt became a name partner.
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.
