Heather Sears

Heather Sears is a senior trade compliance attorney with more than 24 years of experience advising global businesses on export controls, sanctions, customs, and anti-corruption laws. She has counseled companies across the defense, technology, telecommunications, and life sciences sectors on compliance with the ITAR, EAR, OFAC regulations, and CBP requirements. Her work spans the full lifecycle of trade compliance—from building and overhauling compliance programs to conducting investigations, managing voluntary disclosures, and supporting remediation efforts. Heather has also served as a member of the State Department's Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG), where she co-chaired subgroups that developed compliance guidelines and regulatory recommendations for the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. She holds a JD from the University of Baltimore and an MBA and MS from the University of Maryland.