Managing Client Matters
Learn how admins can manage client matters in Harvey, including viewing, editing, uploading in bulk, and setting user permissions.
Last updated: Sep 3, 2026
Overview
Client matters numbers are used to organize and track work related to specific clients and matters. They help in billing, managing case files, and ensuring that all activities and expenses are accurately recorded for each client and case.
While using Harvey, you may need to view, edit, delete, or upload your client matter numbers in bulk. This can be done by navigating to Command Center → Configurations → Matters & Walls.
To understand the typical user experience, please read Client Matters Numbers.
Viewing and Modifying Client Matters Numbers
As a workspace admin, you can see all client matters numbers in your workspace, along with the number of queries and users for each one. You can edit the name and description, as well as delete any client matters number.
Creating Client Matters
Admins can add client matters numbers by clicking +Create in the top right corner of the Matters & Walls page. Non-admin users, if permitted by their admin (see below), can create single client matters numbers but cannot perform bulk uploads.
- Single
- Client Matter: A number to identify each client by.
- Description: A description of the client matter (i.e., “Acme Merger.”)
- Notice: A message that is shown to users when they select the client matter. The user must acknowledge it before proceeding. Harvey records each acknowledgment, including when the user consented, and does not show the notice to that user again.
- Retention settings: Admins can select a retention period for the matter.
- Bulk
- Upload a CSV or text file following the format requirements stated.
- The 'allowed (true/false)' column lets admins mark specific client matters as ‘disallowed’. When users try to select a disallowed client matters number, they'll see a warning message and won't be able to proceed.
Tip: Use the bulk upload option if you want to apply or update notices across many matters at once.
Additional Client Matter Settings
Below the client matter table on the Matters & Walls page, admins have control over additional features. Toggling these on (black) or off (grey) will affect all users in your workspace.
- Require Client Matter for all queries: Block Assistant queries until users select a Client Matter.
- Allow users to add, edit, and delete Client Matters: Enables users to maintain the workspace’s Client Matter list themselves.
- Associate vaults with a Client Matter: Admins can enforce that all Vault projects (new or reused) must be associated with a valid Client Matter number ensuring traceability across project work streams. Vaults synced from a DMS such as iManage inherit the matter from the source automatically, and it can't be changed at vault creation.
- Show Client Matter descriptions in dropdowns: Show each matter's description alongside its number, and let users search the client matter picker by description as well as by number.
- Client Matter delimiter: Allows admins to define the character used to separate the client and matter numbers in queries, such as “.”
Tip: If you associate Client Matters with vaults, this allows you to set custom retention periods per vault. Learn how to Manage Vault Retention.
Ethical Walls
If your firm uses an ethical walls provider, you can connect it here to enforce your firm's walls inside Harvey. Because walls are matter-based, they rely on client matters: when a walled client matter is attached to a Thread, Vault, Review Table, or Playbook, restricted users can't open the resource or receive it on a share. Spaces have their own rules with ethical walls and client matters, including filtering content with the space according to each users' view of accessible client matters.
To connect a provider and turn on enforcement, refer to Ethical Walls in Harvey and the setup guide for your walls provider.
Optional Enforcement Features
If your firm requires stricter controls for client matter usage and compliance, Harvey Support can enable the following features upon request. Submit a ticket in the top right corner of the Help Center or email support@harvey.ai to activate any of these options:
- CM# Format Validation: Prevent users from entering CM#s that don’t follow a predefined format (e.g.,
#####-ABC) reducing user error and enforcing consistency across entries.- Harvey Support will configure the validation logic using RegEx based on your firm's requirements.
- Custom Sharing Warning: Display a configurable in-product warning when users share Vault or Assistant threads, reinforcing ethical wall or compliance reminders.
- Admins may define the message, up to 200 characters.
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