Suits featured a number of antagonists and villains that were at odds with Mike and Harvey throughout the show's history. Mike Ross certainly didn't have a clean record, considering his whole narrative arc in the first half of the show was the fact that he did not have the necessary qualifications to practice law. But despite this, he is set up as the protagonist of the show, alongside his friend and mentor Harvey Specter, who is arguably even more shady than Mike.

Harvey was a legitimate lawyer, but due to his own ego and pride, he operated outside the lines, thinking that he knew better, and could get his way. However, there is no doubt that Mike and Harvey made an incredible team, helped a lot of people in need, and eventually came good on all of their earlier shenanigans. However, they had a lot of opposition on that road, with several characters who tried to turn their lives upside down, and ultimately serve their own selfish desires.

8 Travis Tanner

Played By Eric Close

When considering 'villains' in Suits, a lot of these characters are morally gray, aggressive, threaten Harvey and Mike's ability to continue practicing law and so on. However, now all of them are actually evil. And occasionally, these characters can stand out as being more legitimate lawyers than Harvey and Mike, though they tend to get bested by their superior knowledge, finesse, and charm.

Enter Travis Tanner, one of the first antagonists in the show's run, who appeared prominently in the first three seasons and then returned as a changed man in season 5. Travis was an early rival to Harvey, though Harvey was able to beat him in court in the two cases where they went head-to-head. However, working alongside Daniel Hardman to push things around behind Harvey's back, Travis still earned the title of antagonist.

7 Andrew Malik

Played By Usman Ally

Moving swiftly from the start of the show to its end, Andrew Malik stands out as one of the primary rivals to be included in the show throughout its final three seasons. Malik was a Deputy Attorney General in New York, and he had some really shady mutual friends with Harvey. And morally speaking, there is no doubt that Malik is a genuine villain in Suits.

Malik held a position of power, and instead of using that authority with consideration, thoughtfulness, and an understanding of his position, he lied, manipulated, cheated, and did everything he could to try and win.

Malik held a position of power, and instead of using that authority with consideration, thoughtfulness, and an understanding of his position, he lied, manipulated, cheated, and did everything he could to try and win. Malik was locked in a conflict with Harvey towards the end of the show, and he did everything he could to try and destroy Harvey and his firm. However, thanks to Harvey and Mike's exceptional skills, they were able to prove Malik's fraudulent dealings, and had him fired and sent to prison for his actions.

6 Jack Soloff

Played By John Pyper-Ferguson

Jack Soloff was a crummy partner at Pearson Specter Litt who wanted to push lawyers like Harvey around to establish himself as a big deal, but things didn't go to plan. Soloff continued to create distance and distrust with his colleagues, continually lying, but eventually it all came crashing down on his own head. However, Jack did have some moments where he seemed like a half-decent guy, like when he worked on a case with Mike Ross and the pair made a connection.

However, almost as soon as he started to settle in at PSL, Mike's secret got out, and Soloff jumped ship. The thing that makes him a slimy and untrustworthy lawyer is the fact that he appears to have no sense of loyalty. Malik was loyal to the DA's office, and his whole life was dedicated to advancing there. Soloff just went wherever he could push others around and serve his own interests, working in turn with Daniel Hardman, then Jessica Pearson, and eventually Robert Zane.

5 Faye Richardson

Played By Denise Crosby

Faye Richardson served as the final rival for Harvey Specter in Suits. Appointed to supervise the firm after a number of issues became evident, Faye was able to cause major disruptions to the firm. However, for the most part, Harvey was able to avoid getting hit by any of Faye's dealings, but that didn't last forever. In an effort to pull off a con on Faye and implicate her in wrongful dealings, Faye proves her strength of character by standing firm and being willing to go down if it means Harvey pays for his shady dealings.

However, when Harvey presents an alternative idea to Faye in which he will leave the firm, as long as she walks away too, they settle things. In a way, this means Faye won out against Harvey, who had a perfect track record for his work up to that point. She wasn't actually villainous, so much as she was a major threat to the show's central cast, but she was a force to be reckoned with.

4 Louis Litt

Played By Rick Hoffman

Louis is potentially one of the most contentious names on this list. Throughout Suits, Louis proves that he is just as deserving of being a leading member of the cast as others like Harvey, but initially, Louis Litt was THE antagonist. His bitter rivalry with Harvey, and his selfish nature made him a considerable threat, and he became someone that the audience loved to hate.

However, throughout the show, Louis softens, he develops a mutual respect and appreciation for Harvey, and ultimately, the pair become good friends. However, if Louis did not have this redemption arc, he may well have been the ultimate villain, constantly double-crossing, causing chaos, and generally wreaking havoc. Thankfully, he was a lot better as one of the good guys working with the rest of the team.

3 Anita Gibbs

Played By Leslie Hope

Anita Gibbs is another character who falls into a gray area in of her morality. The fact is, with her relentless pursuit of Mike Ross and proving his fraudulent behavior, she was completely right. But the thing that muddies her character is the means by which she tries to get her conviction. Once again, Gibbs provides the show with another dirty Assistant District Attorney who is willing to bend the rules in order to achieve her goals and further her own career.

Anita threatens, makes promises, tries to intimidate, blackmail, and forces people to act in accordance with whatever will help her to win her case. Ultimately, she relents, and allows Mike to the Bar, despite his criminal behavior, but judging by her own actions, it seems perfectly fair that she would be lenient. Beyond that, she remains one of the most intimidating and intense characters that Harvey and Mike have ever had the displeasure of facing off against.

2 Charles Forstman

Played By Eric Roberts

Back to the real villains at hand: Charles Forstman is a shady, crooked, corrupt, and awful man who uses his extraordinary wealth to manipulate and push people around. From early on in Harvey's career, Forstman used his money to control Harvey's family, and further his own desires. As a result, Harvey was forced to work with Forstman for some time, and, evidently, it was a low point in his career.

Fortunately, Harvey made something of his life, but Forstman remained a constant presence who had influence over those close to Harvey, and continued to put pressure on him throughout the entire run of Suits by manipulating others to attack and target Harvey and his firm. Forstman is a cruel, disloyal, punishing man who gets his pleasure from controlling others. And as a result, he is one of the most despicable villains in Suits.

1 Daniel Hardman

Played By David Costabile

However, the title of the absolute worst monster in Suits has to go to Daniel Hardman. Hardman was never a good man, and in of his ability as a lawyer, his most impressive skills were his ability to manipulate others. Though he and Jessica were relatively new to the Gordon Schmidt Van Dyke law firm in 2003, Hardman was able to leverage information in order to stage a coup and take over the firm, kicking out the former name partners, and founding Pearson Hardman alongside Jessica. However, this was just the tip of the iceberg.

He was relentless, willing to bend rules, and do whatever it took to build his own fortune and legacy.

Hardman cared very little for anyone or anything, appearing to be a self-serving man to his very bones. He cheated on his dying wife, and when found out, he stepped away briefly, but after his wife died, he immediately attempted to take over the firm again. He was relentless, willing to bend rules, and do whatever it took to build his own fortune and legacy. Thankfully, his plans were thwarted and Hardman was permanently pushed out of the spectaclar show that is Suits.