Plaintiff-side litigation for accountability and recovery.
Class actions and individual representation in environmental harm, deceptive pricing, consumer fraud, and wage-and-hour. Built on fifteen years inside EPA and Congress — and a working understanding of how regulated industries think.
G.W. Mears Law LLC represents workers, consumers, and communities harmed by corporate misconduct. We bring class actions and individual claims against companies that cause environmental damage, deceive customers, and underpay workers.
Our advantage is a working understanding of how regulated industries actually operate. Before founding the firm, Gilbert Mears spent fifteen years inside the federal system — at EPA enforcement, the EPA Inspector General's office, and on Capitol Hill — building insight you cannot get from the outside.
That perspective shapes how we build cases: what to ask for in discovery, where investigations actually start, what defendants fear, and what they ignore.
Where matters are complex or multi-jurisdictional, we collaborate with co-counsel to bring additional expertise and broader reach to bear for our clients.
Focused representation across the areas where government, environment, and commerce intersect — drawing on firsthand knowledge of how agencies operate, investigate, and enforce.
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Environmental Litigation
Representing affected individuals and communities against polluters and entities causing environmental harm.
Water contamination & toxic exposure
Citizen suits under federal environmental statutes
Clean Water Act & Clean Air Act enforcement
Environmental torts
Brownfields, CERCLA, RCRA matters
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Consumer Protection
Plaintiff-side representation for individuals harmed by companies that deceive, mislead, or trap consumers.
Deceptive pricing & hidden fees
Automatic renewal & negative option violations
Unfair & deceptive trade practices (UDAP)
TCPA & unwanted communications
False advertising & consumer fraud
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Wage & Hour
Recovering unpaid wages and overtime for workers misclassified, underpaid, or worked off the clock.
FLSA back wages & overtime
Worker misclassification (1099 vs. W-2)
Off-the-clock work & tip theft
Maryland Wage Payment & Collection Law
DC Wage Theft Prevention Act
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Class Action Representation
Pursuing class actions on behalf of consumers, workers, and affected communities, often in coordination with co-counsel.
Service as named class representative
Multi-jurisdictional case coordination
Consumer, employment, and environmental classes
Pre-certification investigation
Settlement & approval proceedings
Specialized Counsel
Also serving as outside counsel
Government Oversight & Compliance
Inspector General audit & investigation response, congressional inquiry support, federal ethics, whistleblower & disclosure matters.
Federal Appropriations & Infrastructure
IIJA / Inflation Reduction Act programs, Buy America compliance, federal grants and cooperative agreements.
Our Approach
Not just legal advice. Strategic advantage.
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Strategic Focus
Fifteen years inside EPA and Congress means understanding not just the law, but how agencies actually make decisions — and where leverage lies.
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Direct Access & Efficiency
Solo practice means you work directly with the attorney handling your matter — no hand-offs, no associates learning on your dime.
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Strategic Partnerships
A trusted network of specialists means complex matters get the right expertise — coordinated seamlessly, without large-firm overhead.
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Fraud Examination Expertise
As a Certified Fraud Examiner — a credential held by fewer than 2% of attorneys — complex financial and investigative matters benefit from an added analytical edge.
Current Matters
Active investigations & matters
We are currently representing clients and investigating potential claims in the matters below. If you believe you may be affected, contact us.
Filed
DC Water Sewage Spill
We represent D.C. residents and businesses affected by the January 2026 sewage discharge from DC Water facilities into the Potomac River. Class action pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland; Second Amended Complaint filed April 2026.
We are investigating reports of hidden fees and deceptive pricing practices affecting consumers of online retailers and subscription services. Individuals who believe they were charged undisclosed or misleading fees are encouraged to contact us.
We are investigating wage-and-hour practices affecting workers across multiple industries in Maryland and DC, including unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, and worker misclassification.
Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Updates
Latest from the Practice
May 2026
Active matters and recent developments. We have opened investigations into deceptive pricing and wage-and-hour practices and are accepting consultations from individuals who believe they may be affected. See Current Matters.
April 2026
Second Amended Complaint filed in our DC Water litigation. See Current Matters for more.
Contact
Let’s 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.
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Email
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Licensed In
Maryland · Washington, D.C.
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Practice Model
Virtual-first · Available nationally for federal matters
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