The highly-anticipated series premiere ofSuits LAis nearing, butthere are a few key details to remember about its predecessorand howSuitsties in to the spinoff.Suits LAfollows Ted Black (Stephen Amell), a former New York prosecutor who moved across the country to represent high-profile clients in California. One of themost anticipated new shows of 2025,Suits LAwill reportedly include a mix of criminal and entertainment law. While the setting lends itself to unique cases and characters, the very plot ofSuits LAdistinguishes itself from its predecessor without compromising the allure ofSuits.
Suits LAcomes 6 years after the original seriesended, entering the franchise after the first spinoff — a Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) political drama simply titledPearson— 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 LAhas a promising premise. Whether the procedural will live up to expectations can only be revealed with time, butSuits LAalready has an original identity that bodes well for the legal drama’s prospective future. Still, the originalSuitslaid the foundation for the spinoff.
7Harvey & Donna Moved To Seattle To Join Mike & Rachel
The Suits Finale Took New York’s Best Closer Out Of New York
Suitsinitially 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. AfterMike hastily married his long-time love interest, RachelZane (Meghan, Duchess of Sussex), inSuitsseason 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. IntheSuitsseries ending, Harvey joins Mike.Suitsseason 9 ended with a quick wedding for Harvey and Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty), but the newlyweds didn’t stay long.
Suits: LA Can Make Amends For Cheating Fans Out Of Harvey & Donna’s Best Story
Suits: LA will include Gabriel Macht’s highly-anticipated return as Harvey Specter, but the spinoff needs to fix his and Donna’s unresolved story.
Due to complicated plot constrictions in the final season ofSuits, 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 inSuits. 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 throughoutSuits’s 9 seasons.
6Louis Now Heads Suits' New York Firm
Once A Foe, Now A Friend
Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) began as a minor antagonist inSuits. Though he had a childish rivalry with Harvey, Louis showed his legal prowess and intelligence time and time again.Louis was the firstSuitscharacter 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 ofSuits. Though Louis veered into villainy on more than one occasion, he got his happy ending eventually.Louis achieved his lifelong dream in theSuitsfinale by becoming the head of the law firmhe 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 ofSuits, 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 thebest characters inSuits.
5None Of The Original Cast Will Be Series Regulars In Suits LA
The Spinoff Includes Original Characters
Suits LAmay be an offshoot ofSuits, but the California procedural is its own series, not a continuation of the original. As such,the main characters ofSuitswon’t return as main characters inSuits 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 setsSuits LAapart from the original series, for better or worse.
With many recurring roles also lined up,Suits LAwill have no shortage of original characters to introduce. Though originalSuitscast members may appear for cameos, it’s best forSuits LAto 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.
Suits LA Review - I Wanted More From This Scattered NBC Spinoff That Doesn’t Understand What Made Suits Good In The First Place
Suits LA expands Aaron Korsh’s franchise with new lawyers to follow, but those hoping for a new Mike and Harvey should temper their expectations.
Suits LAhaving different main character dynamicsensures it doesn’t come across as a carbon copy ofSuits, which is the first thing the spinoff has to prove in its pilot season. Following such a popular title meansSuits LAwill forever be compared toSuits, but the best way to combat that is to lean into its originality.
4Gabriel Macht Is Set To Reprise His Role As Harvey Specter In Suits LA
Macht Hasn’t Acted Since 2019
Gabriel Macht led one of thebest legal dramas of all timefor 9 seasons, but theSuitsactor absconded from the limelight in 2019. Following the end ofSuitsandPearsonin 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 inSuits 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 inSuits LAis limited, the West Coast spinoff would have no chance at originality if it involved the most important character fromSuitsin 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 LAcan 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 forSuits LA.
3Harvey Has A History With Suits LA’s Ted Black
The Lawyers Have A Shared Past In New York
Furthermore,Suits LAindicated that Ted Black has an established relationship with New York’s former best closer, Harvey Specter. In one ofSuits LA’s promotional trailers, Ted Black reminisces by looking ata 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’sSuits LAappearance 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 ofTed Black’s secrets inSuits 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 afterSuits, bringing much-needed closure to his and Donna’s storyline. Either way, Harvey solving the case alone would quickly take the wind out ofSuits LA’s sails, so Ted Black will have to stand on his own despite Harvey’s indomitable presence.
2Suits LA’s Firm Tackles Cases In Hollywood
The Spinoff Will Include Entertainment Law
Suits LAmight be a spinoff, but the cases may feel drastically different from the onesSuitscovered. For one,Suits LAsuggests 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 LAwill deal with criminal cases, butanother significant part of Ted Black’s law firm will focus on entertainment law.
Rather than fighting corrupt landlords or attacking Big Pharma,Suits LAwill 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 preventSuits LAfrom becoming too similar toSuits.
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Suits was a fantastic show that could get a little annoying sometimes due to tropes and recycled stories that Suits LA will hopefully avoid.
A specific location with such a dramatically different tone than New Yorkprovides room to explore the differences between LA law and New Yorklaw. Consequently,Suits LAcould become successful enough to be seen less as a spinoff and more as a sister series.Suits LAcould fill in the gaps ofSuitsand vice versa. Plus, the odd mix of entertainment and criminal law alone promises a strong foundation for humor.
1Suits 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 fromSuitsstars will always remain a possibility, but it’s unlikely thatSuits LAwill ever collaborate with the New York office fromSuits. Thefirm name changed many times inSuits, but the most memorable name is its original: Pearson, Hardman. The lawyers that remain (including Louis Litt) are still practicing law in New York, butthere’s no reason for them to interact with any lawyer fromSuits LA. Even Harvey doesn’t indicate that any New York law firm members will appear in the future, as he left inSuitsand is traveling to LA from Seattle.
Suitswill forever be remembered for how it revitalized the legal drama genre, butSuits LAis 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,formerSuitscharacters have no narrative explanation to appear, safeguardingSuits LAfrom falling into a cycle of distracting cameos. Harvey’s appearance will act as a passing of the torch, with Macht giving one final performance beforeSuits LAtakes up the mantle to continue the legal drama’s legacy.Suitswill forever be remembered for how it revitalized the legal drama genre, butSuits LAis ready for its time in the sun.
Suits
Cast
Suits is a legal drama series that premiered in 2011, centering on Mike Ross, a college dropout with a photographic memory who lands a job at a top New York law firm despite lacking a law degree. Partnering with one of the city’s best legal closers, Harvey Specter, they navigate the challenges of high-stakes cases and firm dynamics.
Suits LA
Suits LA follows Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor who now represents influential clients in Los Angeles. As his law firm faces a critical juncture, Ted must navigate the challenges of a role he once disdained, balancing moral dilemmas with the demands of high-stakes legal battles.
