His reign was short-lived. Harvey and Mike Ross eventually proved that Hardman had planted a fake memo to frame Donna Paulsen for fraud, leading to his permanent dismissal and the buyout of his partnership. "Daniel Hardman Free": The Legacy and Future
Despite calling himself a founding partner, Hardman actually took over the firm (then known as Gordon Schmidt Van Dyke) alongside Jessica Pearson through a staged coup in 2003. The Rise and Fall of Daniel Hardman daniel hardman free
His character is defined by a paradox: a man who presents himself as a reformed, grieving widower while simultaneously executing some of the most calculated power plays in the show's history. The Man Behind the Smug Smile His reign was short-lived