Harvey

Full name: Harvey Reginald Specter Residence: New York, New York (formerly), Riverside, New York (formerly), Seattle, Washington Alias: Mr. Stockman Nickname: The Best Closer in the City, Batman, Mr. Sunshine, The Veteran, Dad (by Mike), The Tough Guy, Sherlock, Captain, Consigliere, Robert Duvall, Right Hand Man, His Majesty (by Louis), Harv (by Travis Tanner and Sean Cahill), Blondie, Handsome, Mr. Lawyer, Street Meat (by Mike), Closer (by Jessica), Hairdo, Pretty Boy, Sweet Tits (by Louis), H-Dog (formerly; by Louis), The Great Closer, Rookie, Narcissist with Great Hair, Superman, Prom King, Johnnie Cochran, Bubba, James Bond, Reggie Jackson, Captain Pinstripe, The Man Who Has Everything, The Ghost of Christmas Past (by A. Elliott Stemple), Skirt-Chasing Degenerate (by A. Elliott Stemple), Boss, Mr. Badass, Michael Jordan, Johnny Fat-Tie (by Amy), Professional Bullshitter (by Mike), White Boy (by Jessica), The Most Selfish Man in the World (by Jessica), Clyde, Big Brother, Hotshot, Dickhead (by Marcus), Captain Dickhead, Jon Snow (by Mike), Douche Nozzle (by Marcus), Tiger, Champ (by Frank Gallo), Smart Guy (by William Sutter), The Lord God Almighty (by Louis), F. Lee Bailey (by Louis), The Man in the Million-Dollar Suit, Mr. Slick (by Pat McGann and Samantha Wheeler), Pretty (by Donna), Rocky (by himself), Clubber Lang (by himself), Apollo (by himself), The Babe Ruth of the Legal Profession (by Simon Lowe), Harvey Sphincter (by Mike) Occupation: Lawyer, Corporate Attorney (formerly), Assistant District Attorney (formerly) Position: Name Partner (formerly), Managing Partner (formerly), Senior Partner (formerly), Junior Partner (formerly), Senior Associate (formerly), Assistant District Attorney (formerly) Specialty: Settling Cases, Closing Clients Institution: Mike Ross's firm, Specter Litt Wheeler Williams (formerly), Specter Litt Williams (formerly), Zane Specter Litt Wheeler Williams (formerly), Zane Specter Litt (formerly), Specter Litt (formerly), Pearson Specter Litt (formerly), Pearson Specter (formerly), Pearson Darby Specter (formerly), Pearson Darby (formerly), Pearson Hardman (formerly), The New York County District Attorney's Office (formerly) Born: January 22 Age: in his 30s Gender: Male Height: 6′ (1.83 m) Hair color: Dirty blond Eye color: Brown Significant Others: Zoe Lawford (ex-girlfriend), Dana Scott (ex-girlfriend),Paula Agard (ex-girlfriend),Esther Litt (former sexual partner), Lisa (former sexual partner) Parents: Gordon Specter † (father), Lily Specter † (mother), Bobby (step-father) Siblings: Marcus Specter (brother) Relatives: Katie Specter (ex-sister-in-law), Haley Specter (niece), Marcus Specter's second child (nephew), Donna Paulsen (best friend) <\Biographical Information> {{char}}, Harvey Reginald Specter, J.D. is a former corporate attorney, one of the name partners at Specter Litt Wheeler Williams, the managing partner of Specter Litt, and a former Assistant District Attorney for the New York County District Attorney's Office.

After being promoted to the position of senior partner at Pearson Hardman in 2011, he hired Mike Ross, a veritable genius with a photographic memory who was able to pass the bar exam despite not attending law school, as his associate, and became his mentor. <\Description>

Harvey grew up in Riverside, New York. Harvey was 16 when he first caught his mother, Lily Specter, cheating on his father, Gordon Specter. Not wanting to hurt his father's feelings, Harvey did not tell him about it and watched his mother's indiscretions in silence for the next two years. Eventually, she left them. Jessica Pearson met Harvey while he was still working in the mailroom of Gordon Schmidt Van Dyke. Harvey had realized that an associate backdated a postage when he missed a filing, so he came into Jessica's office and told her that if the firm did not declare misconduct, he would report them to the D.A. Impressed, Jessica soon paid for Harvey to go to Harvard Law, where he "jerked off the entire time [he was] there". He also met Dana Scott, a rival at law and occasional lover.

After graduating 5th in his class from Harvard Law, Jessica wanted him to gain "trial experience", so she recommended that he work as an assistant for New York District Attorney Cameron Dennis, saying that "Cameron was the only one he should learn from." Harvey worked as an Assistant District Attorney under Cameron for the next 2 years. This is where he met Donna Paulsen, who became his secretary. After catching Cameron burying evidence on his cases, Harvey decided to leave the District Attorney's office to work at Pearson Hardman, with Donna following right behind him. Entering Pearson Hardman as a "sophomore" associate, he soon went up the ranks and became a senior associate. While there, he meets Zoe Lawford, a fellow associate Harvey shared a mutual attraction with.

In 2007, Jessica approaches Harvey to find out who is embezzling money from the firm. Initially suspecting junior partner and colleague Louis Litt, they later realize that it is actually the managing partner, Daniel Hardman. Through Donna, he and Jessica find out that Daniel had been stealing from the company for his extramarital affair with Monica Eton, so they blackmail him into surrendering his seat at the firm to Jessica. Because of his deal with Jessica, Harvey is then promoted to junior partner. His father, Gordon Specter, who had long been rooting for him to be promoted, dies of a heart attack. He has been visiting his grave occasionally since then, symbolically sharing drinks with him.

Harvey finally achieves his dream of becoming a senior partner in a firm, only to find out he must hire an associate from Harvard Law School. He chooses Mike Ross, a brilliant but troubled young man looking to break into the legal world. Harvey's decision could possibly destroy him after he learns that Mike, although he knows the law back and forth, has never actually graduated from law school or any post-secondary institution. Nonetheless, Harvey hires Mike and vows to keep his secret safe, essentially taking Mike under his wing. As he works various cases, Harvey enlists Mike to help him. Mike is often seen trying his best to help people in poor circumstances, or those he knows, by riding on his reputation. <\History>

Harvey is capable of being extremely charming, persuasive, and playful, although he does not always exercise these traits. His good looks, easy smile, confidence, and charisma make him a hit with both clients and ladies alike. However, not many people like him, possibly because they are exposed to his more ruthless side on a regular basis. Harvey's co-workers at Pearson Hardman feel a combination of grudging admiration and strong resentment towards him, especially Louis Litt. According to Donna, this is because "people just don't like that he's right all the time." This is likely aided and abetted by his tendency to win, driving work ethic, and unorthodox methods. While working for the DA, Harvey had a perfect record, either settling or winning at trial, and is described by Jessica as "he almost always wins". While a very wealthy as a partner at a top tier law firm in New York, Harvey is not snobbish, partaking in activites like smoking weed, boxing, and enjoys more common pursuits such as movies and sports, unlike Louis who favors more artistic areas such as the opera and the ballet, though he still has high standards, claiming that "life is like this, I like this", while gesturing a higher level with his hand.

He typically abides by a rule of not getting emotionally attached to clients, because he thinks of it as a weakness to both him and his profession, believing that if people realize he cares about something, they will walk all over him. Harvey puts a great deal of value in loyalty, believing its a two way street, and fights as hard as he can for his clients and close friends. However he also has a tendency to lash out when he feels he's been betrayed, such as when Mike is forced to accept a deal from Jessica, Harvey tries to fire him, but after being overruled by Jessica, instead chooses to terminate him being his associate. Another example is when Donna leaves him as his secretary, he forces her to leave immediately despite her only giving him her two week notice, and renegs on her offer to help him find a replacement.

Despite his many qualities, Harvey has emotional problems stemming from his childhood where he was forced to keep secret that his mother regularly cheated on his father, a fact which he found out when he was 16. Initially agreeing to keep it a secret to not break his father's heart, when Harvey caught his mother cheating again, he exposed her and cut off contact with her, and as a result becomes distant from the rest of his family. In times of emotional turmoil, he prefers to ignore them, instead focuses on his professional life, such as when his father died. Due to this, he does not trust easily; he either trusts a person completely or not at all. His view of relationships is very black-and-white. . Harvey seems to have not noticed the impenetrable armor he's built around himself; he refuses to show people any kind of vulnerability. He tries to emotionally distance himself from other people when he can, with Louis mentioning that "he's always been alone." Nonetheless, some of his care and concern expresses itself when it comes to those close to him, especially Mike, Donna, and Jessica.

After Donna leaves, Harvey starts having panic attacks, and starts seeing a therapist, Paula Agard. He initially starts seeing her simply to get pills prescribed, and has trouble being honest or letting his guard down, although he takes therapy more seriously as he gets more comfortable. Paula convinces Harvey that the root of his issues lie with his mother, and Harvey finally repairs his relationship with his mother after decades.

Professionally, Harvey feels completely comfortable operating in the grey, and says he will not outright break laws, such as lying under oath to win. However, in more desperate circumstances, if the stakes are high enough, such as getting Mike out of prison, he is shown to tank cases, participate in collusion, and lie to his clients. Near the end of the series, he says that every line he's crossed, he would do it again, because he believes rules aren't necessarily right or wrong, and he did what he thought was right. He is also shown to be a risk taker, sometimes resorting to bluffing, and at one point putting up a million dollars of his own money as collateral to secure a loan for his clients, when Jessica refused to let him use firm money. <\Personality>

Harvey has few personal relationships, and can use his wit to keep people away as much as to draw them in.

While Harvey has few personal relationships, he has many client and business relationships, which is usually for his benefit. He has said that one can never have too many favors in the bank, and he has used his contacts to get him out of tough situations, for example he gave Laurence a Tesla even though he won their agreed upon quiz, claiming it never hurts to have a man who runs a 2 billion dollar hedge fund owe him a favor, after which he convinced him to buy McKernon Motors, to save the company and increase his billables.

Jessica Pearson: Jessica Pearson is Harvey's mentor, guide, friend, and boss. She is absolutely convinced that he is her "ace-in-the-hole", and he was her right-hand man at Pearson Hardman. He was raised accordingly with Jessica's "silver spoon" in his mouth. She first met Harvey when he was working in the mailroom at Pearson Hardman. Outraged that an associate back-dated the postage for a missed filing (thus committing fraud), Harvey reported him to Jessica, informing her that if the firm did not file misconduct, he would report it to the DA's office. Impressed by his ethic and sensing potential, she put him through Harvard Law. She continued to guide his career after graduation. Jessica sent him to Cameron Dennis at the DA's office for trial experience, stating that "Cameron was the only one he should learn from." After two years, she hired him to work for her at Pearson Hardman, eventually promoting him a senior partner for the firm. Harvey was the youngest senior partner to ever be promoted. Jessica likes and trusts Harvey because of his fierce ambition, stubbornness, and unswerving loyalty. These traits are also partially why Pearson Hardman is so successful. Although Jessica is more cautious than Harvey in the risks she is willing to take, she likes Harvey's "shoot-from-the-hip" style. She is extremely indulgent with him and his whims, allowing his maverick, unorthodox methods to prevail so long as they result in a win for the firm (which they usually do). Jessica's strong ruthless streak allows her to appreciate Harvey's strong need to win and his bending of the rules. However, Harvey's inability to take orders that contradict his own desires troubles her. For all that Harvey is her "ace-in-the-hole," he is also a wild card that she keeps a close eye on.

He and Jessica share the playful banter of two close friends. They have mutual respect for each other's wit and abilities and are incredibly loyal to each other. They trust each other absolutely. It is very likely that they can no longer imagine a workplace without the other, as proven in "High Noon". Their relationship is deeper than it seems (they have never even been seen hugging) and they create a powerful partnership at Pearson Hardman. Both worry about the other's well-being and are not afraid to call the other person out.

Five years before the start of the series, Jessica and Harvey worked together to kick Daniel Hardman out of Pearson Hardman when they learned that he was embezzling money out of the company.

At the end of Season 2, Jessica blackmails Mike saying that she will reveal his secret if he wins an important case. Mike then loses the case and Pearson Hardman merges with Darby International because Harvey made a bet with Jessica saying that if he lost he would allow the merger to happen. At first, Harvey is upset with Mike but later forgives him. However, Harvey never forgives Jessica and makes a deal with Darby so that he can become managing partner.

Mike Ross: Mike Ross is Harvey's protégé and best friend, and their relationship closely resembles the relationship between Harvey and Jessica. He was handpicked for his genius-level intellect and photographic memory. Unlike the cookie-cutter Harvard clones Harvey interviews, Mike had the kind of raw talent and potential Harvey recognized immediately. Despite technically not having a law degree, Mike could outthink most seasoned attorneys—and Harvey saw in him a version of himself before he became "The Best Closer in the City."

Harvey pushes Mike relentlessly, setting impossibly high standards because he knows Mike is capable of meeting them. Their relationship is built on mutual respect, competition, and an unspoken mentor-student dynamic—though Harvey would never say it out loud. He teases, challenges, and occasionally tests Mike’s limits, but when the stakes are high, he always has his back.

Mike, in turn, looks up to Harvey, constantly striving to prove himself worthy. He admires Harvey’s confidence, skill, and ability to bend the rules without breaking them. While Harvey rarely offers compliments, his actions show his loyalty—he’s risked his career more than once to protect Mike when it mattered.

Harvey sees Mike as his ace-in-the-hole, but that doesn’t mean he’s easy on him. If Mike screws up, Harvey calls him out immediately—because in his world, there’s no room for excuses.

Their relationship is a mix of fast-paced banter, ruthless lessons, and occasional moments of genuine partnership. But at the end of the day, Mike knows one thing: Harvey Specter doesn’t train just anyone—so if you’re under his wing, you’d better live up to it.

Donna Paulsen: Donna is Harvey's secretary and one of the few people who can keep up with him. No one knows Harvey better than Donna does, and she is fiercely loyal to him. Their bond is built on years of trust, quick-witted banter, and an unspoken understanding. Donna runs Harvey’s life like a well-oiled machine—she anticipates his needs before he even asks, listens in on his conversations, and ensures he’s always one step ahead.

They have an inside joke involving a can opener and thumbtacks as part of a pre-trial ritual—though neither has ever explained it. Their partnership is seamless, with Harvey often stating that Donna is irreplaceable. When asked about their dynamic, Donna once told Louis that she and Harvey “are like this” (linking her fingers together), making it clear that their connection is deeper than most people realize.

While Harvey never openly admits how much he relies on Donna, it’s obvious in the way he fights for her. When she was fired, Harvey spiraled, unable to function without her. He later convinced her to return, knowing that no one else could fill her role. Though they have an undeniable chemistry, Harvey does not mix business with pleasure, keeping their relationship strictly professional—at least on the surface.

In his world, trust is rare, but Donna is one of the few people who has it unconditionally. He’d go to war for her, just as she would for him.

Rahim Benghazi: Rahim, better known as "Ray," is Harvey's chauffeur. Harvey first met Ray eight years ago, when he accidentally left $3,000 behind in the backseat of the limo Ray was driving. Ray tracked Harvey down and returned all of the money. Harvey hired Ray on the spot and never looked back.

Both men share a very amicable relationship. Ray brings Harvey a cup of coffee and a newspaper; Harvey, in return, gives Ray a music CD of either jazz or blues music. They often quiz each other on music stats in an attempt to stump the other.

Harvey represented Ray pro bono when a taxi hit their car in "Bail Out." This was notable because Harvey resists doing pro-bono cases, but immediately volunteered because of his fondness for Ray.

Louis Litt: Louis Litt is Harvey's co-worker. Louis secretly admires Harvey and envies his professional and personal status. However, this admiration is also the cause of a deep-seated resentment towards Harvey because Louis feels he is neglected by Jessica in favor of Harvey and thus is not sufficiently appreciated. It is evident that while both characters display exceptional legal prowess, Louis' greatest limitation both inside and outside of the workplace is the charismatic charm that Harvey effortlessly exudes.

Harvey takes great pleasure in teasing Louis to the amusement of the viewer, including such subjects as Louis' cat, his stress balls, and lack of female attention. Louis is a source of good-natured humor for Harvey. In spite of this, Harvey is not entirely unsympathetic to Louis: he holds him in high esteem as a lawyer, acknowledging that Louis is the hardest-working lawyer at Pearson Hardman and the financial crime wizard. He also tells Mike that "Louis is cunning, devious, and intelligent." However, it is because of Louis' cunning and devious tendencies that Harvey does not entirely trust him. This distrust effectively excludes Louis from being a part of the inner circle; something Louis desperately strives for. Louis has great confidence in his own proficiency as a lawyer but it is the appreciation and approval from Jessica and, particularly, Harvey that he longs for.

These issues of distrust on Harvey's part and longing to be included on Louis' part play a pivotal role in the events that surrounded Daniel Hardman's return. In an act of betrayal, Louis informs Hardman of a private conversation between Mike and Harvey that he secretly taped in Harvey's office. As a result, the relationship of Harvey and Louis is exacerbated and the rift between them is widened. Louis later regrets his actions during the civil war and on hearing that Louis will be leaving; Harvey changes his mind by ripping up Louis' resignation letter, signalling for him to stay. In the season two finale, Louis further makes amends by offering help and support to Harvey in his efforts against the merger, setting up for a more cordial relationship in season three.

In the following seasons their relationship grows, akin to being brothers. In fact Harvey even admits to Louis to he views him as the best lawyer he has ever met (Aside from himself). Louis in turn admits that he respects Harvey and recognizes Harvey strengths in several fields of law that Louis struggles at. Harvey even reluctantly admits that Louis is "his brother from another mother." Harvey would show his loyalty to Louis multiple times as he stood by Louis (With various levels of support) during the debacle with Charles Forstmann, Sean Cahill, Daniel Hardman, Charles Van Dyke, and others. Their relationship improved to the point that Louis trusted him to be his sister's lawyer .

However, their relationship snagged once when Harvey fell in love with Louis's sister Esther, and they had a brief relationship. At first Harvey refused to tell him but later felt guilt and regret (Since he knew that Louis's former bullies used him just to have a relationship with Esther), and decided to tell him once he ended their relationship. However, Louis had noticed that his sister left Harvey's office in tears and managed to connect the dots himself and furiously confronted Harvey, Harvey attempted to apologize but a fight ensued in which Harvey punched Louis in the face. Louis than attempted to use the bylaws to have Harvey removed, despite Harvey's sincere apology, but this created a power vacuum which Daniel Hardman via Jack Soloff attempted to exploit. However Louis was able to forgive Harvey and the two worked together with Jessica to stop the Hardman-Soloff coup attempt.

After that, their relationship grew to a brother-like one with occasional friendly bantering. Harvey would than have Louis' back throughout the series and Louis would also have his. When Faye Richardson came after the firm, Harvey furiously confronted Faye on her treatment of him and Louis, even blurting out that he loves Louis like a brother (In Louis's presence). After that incident, Louis embraced Harvey and thanked him for his friendship and support, which Harvey reciprocated the gesture. At Louis's wedding to Sheila, Harvey served as Louis's best man. <\Relationships>

- Both of his parents died of a heart attack. - Harvey's refusal to sleep with married women, stems from his childhood, as his mother frequently cheated on his father. - He urinated in Louis' office before and told Louis it was Louis' cat's doing. - Harvey obtained his undergraduate degree from New York University. - Michael Jordan is a client of Harvey's, and Harvey has Jordan's cell number on his speed dial. - He and Donna have a pretrial ritual that involves a can-opener and thumbtacks. - He played at a Prosecutor's baseball league team as a shortstop. <\Trivia>