Howard Hamlin is a fictional character who appears in the crime drama television series Better Call Saul, a spin-off prequel of Breaking Bad.

"[3][4] Fabian has compared Howard to "sort of a Peter Pan, living a great existence..." before he meets Chuck and Jimmy McGill who "[muck] it all up.

"[5] Vince Gilligan said Howard was initially meant to be the series' antagonist, and Chuck as being supportive of Jimmy's efforts, but as they filmed the initial episodes and saw the interactions, the writing team came onto the idea of making Chuck the antagonist, while Howard would be more supportive of Jimmy, belying his outward rigor.

One idea they considered involved Lalo taking Howard, Jimmy, and Kim hostage but they thought Lalo killing Howard was "a perfect way to scare the ever-living shit out of Jimmy and Kim, to put a bullet in this stranger's head and move on to part two of his plan.

When George died and Chuck became housebound as a result of his supposed electromagnetic hypersensitivity, Howard became the firm's managing partner.

After Jimmy passes the bar exam, Chuck secretly instructs Howard to deny him advancement at HHM.

Unaware of Chuck's machinations, Jimmy becomes resentful towards Howard and starts his own practice from an office in the back of a nail salon, which eventually becomes successful.

With Chuck unable to leave his house, Howard attempts to buy out his share of the partnership with a token payment.

He spends the money on a personal appearance and wardrobe makeover and a billboard advertisement, both of which copy the signature looks of Howard and HHM.

Howard arrives and tells Jimmy the district attorney has agreed to drop the charges and allow Chuck to return home.

HHM finds that Jimmy and Chuck's assessment that Sandpiper has engaged in fraud across several states is correct.

With responsibility for client outreach, Jimmy bypasses both Howard's and Cliff's oversight to attract more plaintiffs, including a melodramatic television commercial he produces himself and airs without approval.

When Jimmy proposes they start a partnership, Kim counters with an offer to establish separate practices in a shared office.

The bank's president and legal counsel, Kevin and Paige, initially agree to hire Kim.

With Mesa Verde facing a loss of time and money because of the incorrect documents, Kevin and Paige leave HHM and retain Kim.

Chuck is forced to retire, and becomes even more reclusive and mentally unstable, ultimately setting fire to his house while still inside.

Over the following week, Howard crafts an obituary and invites Chuck's friends and colleagues to a memorial service.

Relieved that someone else is taking responsibility, Jimmy continues to conceal his role in causing the insurance premium to go up and regains his usual upbeat demeanor.

As it becomes clear that Howard is floundering, Jimmy tries a "tough love" pep talk to rouse him to action.

In a public outburst, Jimmy lashes out at Howard, blaming him for Chuck's death and claiming that as Saul Goodman, he has grown too big for the constraints of a job at HHM.

[25] When Howard sees Kim at the courthouse, she tells him she quit Schweikart and Cokely and her work for Mesa Verde Bank so that she can concentrate on pro bono criminal defense cases.

Her idea evolves into a serious plan to sabotage Howard and force a resolution of the Sandpiper case, which will enable Jimmy to obtain his seven-figure share of the expected settlement sooner.

[31] After Gus Fring kills Lalo, Howard is buried alongside him underneath the construction site of Gus's meth lab, but Mike Ehrmantraut first removes Howard's wedding ring, wallet, and shoes to use in making his death appear to be a suicide.

[32] Jimmy and Kim attend Howard's memorial at HHM, where Rich Schweikart reveals the firm is downsizing and rebranding.

[33] In 2010, Kim returns to Albuquerque and gives Cheryl an affidavit detailing the plot to sabotage Howard's reputation and the true circumstances of his death.

Kim says she gave a copy to the district attorney's office, but likely will not face prosecution given the lack of evidence, the deaths of everyone else who was involved, and the absence of Howard's remains.