She briefly left him to work for Louis Litt. However, Louis fired her so that she could go back to work for Harvey. Wanting more out of her life, she convinced Harvey to promote her to senior partner despite her lack of legal knowledge or credentials, which Harvey agreed to as he believed the firm could not operate without her. However, Harvey was reminded by Katrina Bennett , Louis Litt and Jessica Pearson that partnership wasn't a title meant to be given to anyone, and was instead given the position of COO instead.
Donna, early in the series, is established as a sharp-witted woman, often holding her own against Harvey and dissing Louis when he advances on her. She is first seen helping Harvey with the associate recruitment. When Mike Ross barged in through the door while trying to dodge the police, she thought that he was the late applicant and let him in. Donna has been portrayed as Harvey's trusted secretary, but more is shown about their relationship and also about herself when Harvey gets tangled with D.
Cameron Dennis ' scandal. She gives Jessica Pearson a very important piece of evidence that will help Harvey prove his innocence about Dennis' evidence burying. When asked why, Donna says that she can't let Harvey take the fall for Dennis. When Harvey learns of this, he is very upset with Donna but later apologizes to her. A four year old suit is resurrected from the past by Travis Tanner.
The suit lists the original client for damages, and the firm for fraud, accusing Harvey of suppressing smoking gun evidence: a memo that revealed the car manufacturer had knowledge of a defective car hood on their products. Harvey claims that he didn't receive the file and Donna tells him that she never saw it and if he didn't receive it then that means that nothing came by her desk. Harvey directs Donna to search the original case for the memo to confirm it never came through their firm.
After days in the file room, Donna finds the file with her timestamp on it and begins to panic. After catching Donna next to the fax machine twice, Mike confronts her about shredding the file and advises her to tell Harvey the truth or he will. Harvey, after Mike spilled coffee on an affidavit stating the memo never came through the firm, and almost committing perjury, is informed of the situation.
