HSM Consulting does appraisal work all over the US while Law's focus predominately has been Dallas/Fort Worth as an impartial non-advocate for government and private property owners. Her firm specializes in litigation support for condemnation and eminent domain assignments and expert witness services. “We are consistently being asked by clients to provide litigation support services, which was difficult with the existing staff,” O'Briant says.

Kartalis says steps have been taken to eliminate any possible conflicts of interest for HSM and its clients. “Obviously, there will be conflicts, but they will be disclosed. And, there won't be that many,” he stresses.

Law says talks have been held on and off since she left Henry S. Miller nearly one decade ago. The merger talks took a more serious turn in the past six months, she explains. “From an information standpoint, it's difficult to get accurate information on sales and leases that are being done because Texas is a non-disclosure state,” she explains. “For us, it's a huge advantage to have direct access to the ones involved and have complete and accurate details of the transaction.”

The HSM team has more than 450 professionals, including 160 brokers, across a multitude of platforms. The firm owns, leases or manages more than 10 million sf. “This helps in selling our company to a client,” Kartalis says. “It helps for them to know we're a one-stop shop company, except for a title service.”