7 Things To Remember From Suits Before Suits LA's Premiere

The highly-anticipated series premiere of Suits LA is nearing, but there are a few key details to remember about its predecessor and how Suits ties in to the spinoff. Suits LA follows Ted Black (Stephen Amell), a former New York prosecutor who moved across the country to represent high-profile clients in California. One of the most anticipated new shows of 2025, Suits LA will reportedly include a mix of criminal and entertainment law. While the setting lends itself to unique cases and characters, the very plot of Suits LA distinguishes itself from its predecessor without compromising the allure of Suits.

Suits LA comes 6 years after the original series ended, entering the franchise after the first spinoff — a Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) political drama simply titled Pearson — failed to take off in 2019. With a loose tie to the original series and a clear vision for what it wants to be,Suits LA has a promising premise. Whether the procedural will live up to expectations can only be revealed with time, but Suits LA already has an original identity that bodes well for the legal drama’s prospective future. Still, the original Suits laid the foundation for the spinoff.

7 Harvey & Donna Moved To Seattle To Join Mike & Rachel

The Suits Finale Took New York's Best Closer Out Of New York

Suits initially started with the power duo of Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), though the series evolved to focus just as much on the peripheral characters. After Mike hastily married his long-time love interest, Rachel Zane (Meghan, Duchess of Sussex), in Suits season 7, the legal drama took on a new angle without Harvey’s right-hand man.

Mike and Rachel left New York in favor of Seattle, where they opened a legal clinic outside of the bureaucratic drama from the New York law firms in Suits. In the Suits series ending, Harvey joins Mike. Suits season 9 ended with a quick wedding for Harvey and Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty), but the newlyweds didn’t stay long.

Custom image of Harvey and Donna in Suits

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Due to complicated plot constrictions in the final season of Suits, Harvey ended up leaving the firm he dedicated most of his life to and reconnected with his best friend, Mike. By moving to Seattle, Harvey and Donna never got full closure in Suits. However, the mere act of Harvey giving up his high-octane New York cases for a clinic in the Pacific Northwest was a testament to how much his character developed throughout Suits’s 9 seasons.

6 Louis Now Heads Suits' New York Firm

Once A Foe, Now A Friend

Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) began as a minor antagonist in Suits. Though he had a childish rivalry with Harvey, Louis showed his legal prowess and intelligence time and time again.Louis was the first Suits character to suspect Mike of not being a real lawyer and, though the legal drama positioned him as a villain for it, his immunity to the scheme was a credit to his character.

From the beginning, all Louis wanted was validation from firm partner Jessica Pearson. Although Harvey was clearly her favorite, Louis stayed in her pocket for practically the entire first season of Suits. Though Louis veered into villainy on more than one occasion, he got his happy ending eventually. Louis achieved his lifelong dream in the Suits finale by becoming the head of the law firm he spent decades working for.

Despite the damage he caused in the early seasons, Louis ended up as one of the best characters in Suits.

Louis had been a partner for multiple seasons by the end of Suits, but the series finale was the first time Louis Litt was listed first in the firm name, a subtle but meaningful acknowledgment of his character development and hard work. Despite the damage he caused in the early seasons, Louis ended up as one of the best characters in Suits.

5 None Of The Original Cast Will Be Series Regulars In Suits LA

The Spinoff Includes Original Characters

Suits LA may be an offshoot of Suits, but the California procedural is its own series, not a continuation of the original. As such, the main characters of Suits won’t return as main characters in Suits LA. The spinoff will include a host of new characters, with three main characters listed besides Ted Black: Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt), Erica Rollins (Lex Scott Davis), and Rick Dodsen (Bryan Greenberg). The true depths of their characters will reveal itself in time, but having four main characters rather than two already sets Suits LA apart from the original series, for better or worse.

With many recurring roles also lined up, Suits LA will have no shortage of original characters to introduce. Though original Suits cast members may appear for cameos, it’s best for Suits LA to highlight its unique ensemble cast early and often. While the original show clearly had Harvey and Mike at the forefront of its storytelling, subsequent seasons also fleshed out the rest of the ensemble, which helped make it a better series.

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Suits LA having different main character dynamics ensures it doesn’t come across as a carbon copy of Suits, which is the first thing the spinoff has to prove in its pilot season. Following such a popular title means Suits LA will forever be compared to Suits, but the best way to combat that is to lean into its originality.

4 Gabriel Macht Is Set To Reprise His Role As Harvey Specter In Suits LA

Macht Hasn't Acted Since 2019

Gabriel Macht led one of the best legal dramas of all time for 9 seasons, but the Suits actor absconded from the limelight in 2019. Following the end of Suits and Pearson in the same calendar year, Macht stepped away from acting and focused on his private life. In early 2025, Macht took to Instagram to tease the reprisal of his most iconic role, later confirming that Harvey Specter will appear in Suits LA.

Though the character is indeed returning, Macht is only scheduled to be there for a three-episode run, meaning Harvey will not become a series regular. Though it may disappoint many to know Harvey’s involvement in Suits LA is limited, the West Coast spinoff would have no chance at originality if it involved the most important character from Suits in its main cast.

The recurring role will also help disprove naysayers who believe Ted Black is merely the “LA version of Harvey.” By showing both lawyers interact, Suits LA can explore their differences and establish Ted Black’s distinct identity. Harvey Specter undeniably leaves big shoes to fill, but including him in a limited capacity is the best course of action for Suits LA.

3 Harvey Has A History With Suits LA's Ted Black

The Lawyers Have A Shared Past In New York

Furthermore, Suits LA indicated that Ted Black has an established relationship with New York’s former best closer, Harvey Specter. In one of Suits LA’s promotional trailers, Ted Black reminisces by looking at a photo from his New York days, showing Ted and Harvey next to each other. With their history kept intentionally vague, there’s no telling what kind of conflict Harvey’s Suits LA appearance will add to the pilot season.

It’s entirely possible that Harvey and Ted are close friends, with Harvey taking a trip to help out of the kindness of his heart. Yet, something deeper may be afoot. Whether intentionally or accidentally, Harvey’s appearance could bring to light some of Ted Black’s secrets in Suits LA. If the spinoff wanted to take a sweeter route, Harvey and Ted could connect over their past (whatever that may be) and Ted could have an epiphany necessary to his character development.

Harvey could even mention what his life looks like after Suits, bringing much-needed closure to his and Donna’s storyline. Either way, Harvey solving the case alone would quickly take the wind out of Suits LA’s sails, so Ted Black will have to stand on his own despite Harvey’s indomitable presence.

2 Suits LA's Firm Tackles Cases In Hollywood

The Spinoff Will Include Entertainment Law

Suits LA might be a spinoff, but the cases may feel drastically different from the ones Suits covered. For one, Suits LA suggests that it isn't leaning too heavily into drama, hoping to maintain a lighter tone throughout the series. Furthermore, the type of law practiced is different (partially, at least). Suits LA will deal with criminal cases, but another significant part of Ted Black’s law firm will focus on entertainment law.

Rather than fighting corrupt landlords or attacking Big Pharma, Suits LA will likely have cases with celebrity plaintiffs and uniquely Hollywood disputes. The premise already offers the setup for some much-needed comedic relief, but the Los Angeles setting also helps prevent Suits LA from becoming too similar to Suits.

Imagery of Suits and Suits LA characters

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A specific location with such a dramatically different tone than New York provides room to explore the differences between LA law and New York law. Consequently, Suits LA could become successful enough to be seen less as a spinoff and more as a sister series. Suits LA could fill in the gaps of Suits and vice versa. Plus, the odd mix of entertainment and criminal law alone promises a strong foundation for humor.

1 Suits LA's New Firm Doesn't Have Any Connection To Pearson, Hardman (Or Any Of Its Iterations)

The Spinoff Likely Won't Interact With New York Lawyers

Future cameos from Suits stars will always remain a possibility, but it’s unlikely that Suits LA will ever collaborate with the New York office from Suits. The firm name changed many times in Suits, but the most memorable name is its original: Pearson, Hardman. The lawyers that remain (including Louis Litt) are still practicing law in New York, but there’s no reason for them to interact with any lawyer from Suits LA. Even Harvey doesn’t indicate that any New York law firm members will appear in the future, as he left in Suits and is traveling to LA from Seattle.

Suits will forever be remembered for how it revitalized the legal drama genre, but Suits LA is ready for its time in the sun.

Ted Black and his fellow LA lawyers will work for an entirely new, independent law firm that exists in a separate sphere to Pearson, Hardman. As such, former Suits characters have no narrative explanation to appear, safeguarding Suits LA from falling into a cycle of distracting cameos. Harvey’s appearance will act as a passing of the torch, with Macht giving one final performance before Suits LA takes up the mantle to continue the legal drama’s legacy. Suits will forever be remembered for how it revitalized the legal drama genre, but Suits LA is ready for its time in the sun.

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