HMM Legal History

1950Attorney’s Edward P. Hart (Ed) and John Wesley Mieras (Wes) first met while working with two (2) time U.S. Presidential candidate, Dr. Claude A. Watson Esq. (Pictured.)
1962Ed and Wes started their own law practice Hart & Mieras. Their offices practiced general practice, taking on all types of cases. (Pictured is one of the original offices.)
1970Wes Mieras hired a young attorney who had not long graduated from Loyola Law School the young attorney was Gary W. Morris, Esq.
1973Charles Urtuzuastegui, Esq. joined the firm. Charles had been working for the Pasadena City Prosecutor’s Office for four (4) years before joining the legal team as an associate attorney. Tragically this was the same year Wes and five (5) other family members lost their lives in an airplane accident. Wes Mieras played a major role representing Point Loma Nazarene University in the purchasing of their current campus. In honor of Wesley (Wes) and Joann Mieras, Point Loma named a Hall after them. (Pictured.)
1978Ed Hart invited Gary Morris to become a partner. Forming what we now today as The Law Offices of Hart, Mieras & Morris, Inc.
1979Was a Pioneering time for Hart, Mieras & Morris, as they were one of the earliest law firms to recommend to clients how to avoid probate by creating a Living Trust. However, Gary took this further by hosting trust seminars to educate the public and share with people how they can save a lot of money and sparing their families from having to go through the probate process without any protection. 1979 both Gary and Charles hosted one of the first ever unscripted Living Trust seminars at their, then, local Highland Park Federal Bank.
1981After nearly fifty (50) years of service to the legal industry Edward P. Hart, Esq. retired and Gary W. Morris, Esq. became sole owner and senior partner of the firm.
1990

Hart, Mieras & Morris, extended its availability to clients by additionally opening another office in Woodland Hills. This is where Gary met Mary Lou Reid who was a financial planner and registered investment advisor.

Over the years their relationship grew and Mary Lou’s husband John Celentano now spearheads Professional Estate Services clients’ long term care planning and advanced estate planning needs.

1994Taking a comprehensive approach, Gary started a business with Wayne Williams offering the services of a team of professionals that includes investment advisors and money managers (Professional Advisory Services).
1997New Receptionist (Heather Medina) was hired and in September 2019 will be her 22nd year anniversary with Hart, Mieras & Morris.
2000Hart, Mieras & Morris moved from its main office, located at Plaza Los Fuentes, Penthouse Suite 135 N Los Robles Ave, Pasadena to 55 W Huntington Dr, Arcadia. This was a temporary move, while today's Arcadia headquarters were being built.
2001One (1) year later the office moved to its current headquarters. Located at 255 E. Santa Clara St., Suite 300, Arcadia, CA 91006.
2004Another professional joined the estate planning team, Terry Donnelly, CPA. Terry has an accounting business in San Demas and offers services to Hart, Mieras & Morris’s clients.
2005Hart, Mieras & Morris hosted the largest event it ever has had; it was within a three-week (3) period held on three (3) separate Saturdays with a participation of over 1,500 guests. The event included a seminar, followed up with a meeting with an attorney and finally, having the client’s documents amended, signed, witnessed and notarized all in one (1) day.
The Executive Factor
2011

Gary and his eldest daughter Tricia started The Executive Factor, which is located in the same building, Suite # 210. They offer businesses fully furnished office space room rentals, along with other office type services.

The same year, Hart, Mieras & Morris opened more office locations, growing from four (4) to six (6). A long-standing relationship was formed with Widows, Orphans & Disabled Fireman’s Fund (aka Los Angeles Fireman’s Relief Association). 720 KABC Radio station started a radio show called “Larry on the Law”, featuring Larry Eder, and both HM&M and on occasion LAFRA, we were often guests on the show.

2012Hart, Mieras & Morris branched out yet again opening a further office location in Valencia. This was also the year that jointly Hart, Mieras & Morris & The Executive Factor launched the first “Red Carpet Event” for Taste of Arcadia.
2014Was the first ever TAPS seminar (Trust Administration, Probate and, a Suitcase) once again like Gary had done in 1979, the firm created another pioneering workshop. This time for Trustees, Trustors and Beneficiaries.
2015Hart, Mieras & Morris’s Client Relations Director became Arcadia Chamber of Commerce President & the firm sponsored the Arcadia Citizen of the Year 2015 “Red Carpet”.
Arcadia Chamber of Commerce and City of Arcadia
2016Hart, Mieras & Morris was awarded the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year 2016 by the Chamber and Recognized by the City of Arcadia.
2017Hart, Mieras & Morris expanded once again, now severing nine (9) office locations throughout Southern California.
  • Arcadia
  • Burbank
  • Glendora
  • Irvine
  • Los Angeles
  • Temecula
  • Valencia
  • Whittier
  • Woodland Hills
2018Michael S. Morris, Esq., Gary’s eldest son, joined the firm as an associate attorney.
2019Attorney Lisa J. Peterson, celebrating her 10th year with the firm, and Michael S. Morris, Esq. became Partners.