High-stakes litigator Patty Hewes takes Ellen Parsons as a protégé as they begin to prosecute Arthur Frobisher, one of the wealthiest CEOs in the nation.
Mounting pressures prompt Frobisher to contemplate extreme measures as Ellen delivers her friend Katie as a key witness. But Patty has suspicions about Katie's testimony.
Patty's resolve is tested when a mysterious threat arrives at her office that places the whole case in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Ellen discovers the demands of her new professional commitment, and Tom digs up some interesting information on Katie.
Patty's team prepares a fragile Katie for her impending deposition; Gregory sits on information that could be vital to the trial; and an on-the-job incident involving David threatens to complicate his relationship with Ellen.
Frobisher has Fiske take an aggressive approach with Patty. Tom reflects on his career options and heads to a friend for advice.
Eager to learn Gregory's secrets before it's too late, Patty pursues him---cautiously; an emboldened Frobisher tries to salvage his legacy with an unconventional strategy; and Lila reappears in David's life, further testing his relationship with Ellen.
The Frobisher case now hinges on Gregory Malina's deposition, so Patty must keep him safe. Meanwhile, Ellen and Tom hide something from Patty, who they fear is manipulating them.
With the key witness missing and the Frobisher camp taking extra measures to keep the momentum on their side, Patty must find a new strategy for the case. Meanwhile, Ellen's parents show up with troubling news.
Gregory's disappearance is still a mystery, leaving both parties deeply entrenched in battle. Frobisher and his team unleash a secret weapon before his deposition and Ellen uncovers some information that just may turn the case upside down.
Penny and Frobisher go head-to-head during the deposition while Ellen debates over risky moves that would get her back into the action.
Pressure from the trial is taking its toll on Patty and Frobisher, as both sides intensify their tactics despite potentially dire ramifications. Ellen's secret information could be a huge help to Patty, but divulging it would be very risky.
Ellen's incarceration for David's murder is connected to the events surrounding Patty's efforts to take down Frobisher.
Patty agrees to be Ellen's council in her case if she is given the video tape of Gregory Malina. Through a series of flashbacks, Frobisher is followed back to Florida in 2002, and Hollis Nye is searching down Ellen.
Patty is setting up a charity foundation when a man she knows asks for her desperate help in a corporate-malfeasance case. Ellen also offers her a class action suit for children, who secretly hopes to bring her down, with the help of two government agents.
Although Purcell refuses to tell Patty anything about his case, she decides to take it anyways. She also gets out of a child-malnutrition case, frustrating Ellen and the agents and handing off to Tom. In a flash forward, Ellen and Wes Krulick have a liaison.
Patty believes that Dan Purcell is holding back vital information concerning the murder of his wife. Meanwhile, Ellen uncovers a secret about Patty and Purcell which is decades old.
Ellen and Tom work on a case against Ultima National Resources in West Virginia, while Patty continues to help clear Daniel Purcell of murder charges from the death of his wife.
Ellen's motives for returning to the firm are challenged by Patty. Patty also believes that Christine Purcell's murder is linked to a corporate merger in which she is determined to halt.
Patty is sure that Walter Kendrick is responsible for the death of Christine Purcell, and starts up a full media war. Meanwhile, Ellen takes one step closer to proving that Frobisher is tied in with David's murder.
Tension between Ellen and Patty develops over how a case should proceed against Ultima National Resources, as Ellen brings new lead to the FBI to bring Patty down.
Patty begins to unravel the energy scheme of Dr. Walter Kendrick. Meanwhile, the past of Arthur Frobisher comes back to haunt him.
Ellen receives troubling news about the investigation as Patty goes on an offensive against the FBI. Meanwhile, Patty's husband is given an intriguing offer.
The opposition is beginning to crack, as Patty increases the pressure in her case against UNR. The FBI's investigation concerning Patty heads into a new shocking direction, while Wes and Ellen find their relationship moving into new areas.
An attempt to oust CEO Walter Kendrick may cost Claire Maddox everything, while a dark secret about Patty's personal life has been discovered by Ellen.
The FBI changes their approach of investigating their case due to Ellen's convincing. Meanwhile, Daniel Purcell becomes critical of Patty's case against the UNR, now that he has re-entered her life.
Patty does all she can to win the UNR case and Ellen's quest for revenge all season long has come to an explosive conclusion.
Patty and Tom continue to dig into the Tobin family's sordid past, while Joe Tobin must decide between his family and his integrity. Ellen aids Tom in his investigation of the Tobins, but in doing so receives some bad news of her own. While locked in the midst of a bitter divorce, Patty and Phil find one piece of common ground in the form of their beloved dog.
Patty Hewes squares off with the D.A. over access to a key witness. A job candidate at Hewes & Shayes asks Ellen for insight into Patty.
Patty is under pressure to make progress in the Tobin case; Ellen uncovers new evidence about Louis Tobin's death.
Tom follows the Tobin money while Ellen rethinks her decision to join the DA's office.
When Carol Tobin vanishes, Patty and Ellen have to track her down. Arthur Frobisher returns to launch his new Foundation.
Patty tracks down Carol Tobin and forces her to reveal the truth about Thanksgiving. Ellen's family life is turned upside down. Frobisher begins to make his movie.
Patty's clients want her thrown off the Tobin case; Tom Shayes makes a risky move that jeopardizes Ellen's job with the district attorney.
After her star witness is arrested, Patty strikes an unusual deal; Arthur Frobisher reveals too much of his past.
Patty is under pressure to make progress in the Tobin case; Ellen uncovers new evidence about Louis Tobin's death.
Ellen and Tom take matters into their own hands in an attempt to win the Tobin case; Patty Hewes is haunted by the price of her success.
Ellen is pursuing a wrongful-death suit against military contractor Howard Erickson. She has a potential ally in high-school flame Chris Sanchez, a troubled former Erickson employee. Lurking in the shadows is Jerry Berman, who is mixed up in some Mideast intrigue
Meanwhile, Patty is suing a drug company and she also hires former police detective Vic Huntley to find her son Michael, and yet another nanny for Michael's daughter.
Ellen presents the High Star case to her firm's senior partners while Erickson and Boorman take different approaches to make it disappear. And Chris is growing increasingly suspicious. Meanwhile, Patty sees a therapist.
Ellen files the High Star case but must scramble to get Chris to testify. Meanwhile, Erickson offers Patty a settlement. And Patty and Vic Huntley search for Michael in Boston.
Ellen meets Nasim, the son of Chris' Afghan contact; Erickson pressures Chris for information; Patty discovers important information about High Star, and recruits her mentor to investigate the company.
Patty and Ellen gather evidence against High Star; Boorman tries to derail the lawsuit; Erickson struggles to maintain secrecy about his CIA contracts.
Patty and Ellen scramble to gain access to Nasim, while Boorman scrambles to keep that from happening; Ellen enlists a reporter (Griffin Dunne) to find Chris in Afghanistan; Erickson and another businessman (John Cullum) negotiate a land deal; and Michael surfaces in New York, looking for Catherine.
Patty uses her drug-company case to gain information on High Star; and a journalist tries to embed with High Star mercenaries in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Michael Hewes seeks out his daughter, Catherine
While reporter Dean Gullickson (Griffin Dunne) heads to Afghanistan, Erickson orders his staff there to deal with Sanchez once and for all. He also confronts Boorman. Meanwhile, the judge in the High Star case allows Ellen to depose Erickson. "Just remember that we're in the middle of a game," Patty tells her. "We don't have to win it now. We just want to keep playing."
Boorman tries to align himself with Patty. Meanwhile, Chris' life remains in jeopardy and the case becomes personal for Erickson.
Ellen is furious when Patty violates their agreement about the High Star case. Tempers come to a head between Erickson and Boorman, while Chris' life hangs in the balance.