Maryland & DC Bar

Federal expertise,
now working
for you.

15+ years inside federal environmental and oversight law — EPA enforcement, Inspector General investigations, and federal appropriations — now applied on behalf of clients who need that experience in their corner.

Former Role
Associate Counsel
U.S. EPA Office of Inspector General
Credentials
J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School
Environmental Law Certificate
Certification
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Licensed
Maryland · Washington, D.C.
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15+
Years Federal Experience
7
Years EPA / OIG
2
Jurisdictions Licensed
"The same knowledge that once guided federal enforcement now helps clients navigate — and challenge — it."

Insider knowledge.
Independent advocacy.

The Law Office of G.W. Mears is a solo practice built on a simple premise: clients deserve an attorney who truly understands how the federal government operates — not just in theory, but from years of working within it.

Before entering private practice, Gilbert Mears served as Associate Counsel with the U.S. EPA Office of Inspector General, advising leadership on audits, investigations, ethics, appropriations, and general counsel matters. Prior to that, he worked in EPA's Waste and Chemical Enforcement Division and held a Legislative Fellowship with Congressman Don Beyer.

That background now serves a different purpose: providing businesses, nonprofits, and individuals with knowledgeable, efficient, and direct legal counsel across environmental law, government oversight, consumer protection, and federal appropriations — without the overhead of a large firm.

Get in Touch
U.S. EPA Office of Inspector General
Associate Counsel · 7 Years · Audits, Investigations, Ethics & Appropriations
EPA Waste & Chemical Enforcement Division
Federal Enforcement · Environmental Compliance
EPA Office of Administrative Law Judges
Detail Rotation · Administrative Proceedings
U.S. House of Representatives
Legislative Fellow · Office of Rep. Don Beyer
Lewis & Clark Law School
J.D. · Environmental & Natural Resources Law Certificate
✦ Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

Practice Areas

Focused legal representation informed by hands-on federal experience in each of these domains.

01
Environmental Law
Legal advocacy and guidance across the full spectrum of federal environmental regulation, informed by direct experience enforcing and interpreting these statutes from inside the EPA.
  • Clean Air Act (CAA) & Clean Water Act (CWA)
  • RCRA · CERCLA / Brownfields · TSCA
  • Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
  • EPCRA · Environmental torts
  • EPA enforcement defense & compliance counseling
02
Government Oversight & Compliance
Navigating federal oversight processes requires knowing how they work from the inside. Having served within the OIG system, we advise clients facing audits, investigations, and ethics inquiries with unmatched context.
  • Inspector General audits & investigations
  • Federal ethics requirements & post-employment rules
  • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
  • Federal grant compliance & oversight
  • Fraud examination & internal investigations (CFE)
03
Consumer Protection
Plaintiff-side consumer protection litigation focused on companies that deceive, mislead, or trap consumers through unlawful subscription and billing practices.
  • Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) violations
  • Negative option & subscription trap claims
  • TCPA & state telephone consumer protection analogs
  • Unfair & Deceptive Acts and Practices (UDAP)
  • Multi-state consumer protection litigation
04
Federal Appropriations & Infrastructure
Practical guidance for organizations accessing, administering, or auditing federal infrastructure funds, with direct expertise in the statutes and requirements governing their use.
  • Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA / BIL)
  • Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) compliance
  • Buy America / BABA domestic sourcing requirements
  • Federal grant administration & compliance
  • Appropriations law counseling

Small firm.
Federal-grade
expertise.

⚖️
Insider Perspective
Having spent years as counsel within the federal enforcement and oversight apparatus, we understand how agencies think, investigate, and decide — and how to use that knowledge to your advantage.
Direct Access & Efficiency
As a small practice, your matter is handled by an experienced attorney — not passed down to junior staff. Lean overhead means cost savings that go directly to clients.
🤝
Strategic Partnerships
We collaborate with other law firms when matters benefit from combined expertise or resources, providing clients with the right team for the right matter without the large firm cost structure.
🛡️
Fraud Examination Expertise
As a Certified Fraud Examiner, we bring a structured investigative lens to compliance and oversight matters — a credential held by fewer than 2% of practicing attorneys.
(Experience + Judgment) × AI
We leverage AI's capacity for thorough legal research while applying the judgment to know when to trust it — and when not to. The result: faster, more comprehensive analysis at a lower cost to clients, without sacrificing accuracy.

Ready to discuss
your matter?

Whether you're facing an enforcement action, need compliance guidance, or want to explore a consumer protection claim, we're available for an initial consultation.

Licensed In
Maryland · Washington, D.C.
Practice Model
Virtual-first · Available nationally for federal matters

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