Best Customs Attorney in Los Angeles

How to choose the best customs attorney in Los Angeles — credentials to verify, questions to ask, and red flags, from a CIT-admitted LA trade attorney.

International Trade & Customs Law Services

Comprehensive customs and tariff defense for California importers at the Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, and all U.S. ports of entry. Services include CBP audit defense, tariff classification, customs valuation, Section 301/232/IEEPA tariff strategy, UFLPA forced labor compliance, duty drawback recovery, and Court of International Trade litigation.

Current Tariff Landscape

With effective tariff rates at historic highs, California businesses need experienced trade counsel. We handle Section 301 China tariffs, Section 232 steel/aluminum tariffs, IEEPA tariff refund claims, and reciprocal tariff compliance.

Free consultation for importers: (818) 514-7680.

Filed Court of International Trade Actions

Trembach Law Firm is not only admitted to the U.S. Court of International Trade — it files its own IEEPA refund complaints there under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(i), with new complaints filed as importers sign. CBP deployed CAPE Phase 3 — which covers finally liquidated entries for plaintiffs holding a court reliquidation order — on October 6, 2026. As of October 28, 2026 the firm is counsel in 35 actions at the Court of International Trade, docket numbers 1:26-cv-04095, 1:26-cv-04154, 1:26-cv-04156, 1:26-cv-04164, 1:26-cv-04185, 1:26-cv-04248, 1:26-cv-04271, 1:26-cv-04277, 1:26-cv-04300, 1:26-cv-04327, 1:26-cv-04328, 1:26-cv-04335, 1:26-cv-04342, 26-04390, 26-04392, 26-04393, 26-04394, 26-04395, 26-04396, 26-04418, 26-04421, 26-04488, 26-04556, 26-04559, 26-04563, 26-04568, 26-04569, 26-04616, 26-04617, 26-04618, 26-04643, 26-04668, 26-04745, 26-04766, 26-04797 (list and verification: Court of International Trade filings). Anatolii Trembach is admitted to practice before the Court of International Trade and is licensed in California, State Bar #349304, verifiable at apps.calbar.ca.gov.

This matters for IEEPA refunds specifically. The Court of International Trade has ordered CBP to reliquidate and refund on plaintiffs’ entries, and CBP’s CAPE Phase 3 for finally liquidated entries is likewise available only to importers who are plaintiffs at the Court. An importer who never filed has no confirmed, self-executing mechanism. Choosing counsel who has actually filed at that court, rather than counsel who only describes the process, is therefore a practical question and not a marketing one.

Jurisdiction over these actions rests on 28 U.S.C. § 1581, and the window to sue runs under 28 U.S.C. § 2636(i). No particular outcome is promised or guaranteed.

Fees, Costs and Case Results

Representation in these matters is offered on a contingency basis covering attorney fees only: there is no attorney fee unless we recover, and clients remain responsible for case costs, such as court filing and service fees. The specific terms that apply to a matter are set out in the written fee agreement for that matter.

Where this site refers to a verdict, settlement or court order, that result was dependent on the facts of that case, and results will differ if based on different facts. Past results do not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other matter, and no particular outcome is promised or guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I verify that a customs attorney is admitted to the U.S. Court of International Trade?

Ask for the attorney's CIT admission and check it directly: the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York maintains its roster of admitted attorneys, and admission requires membership in good standing of a state bar plus formal admission to the CIT itself. This matters because customs disputes that go to litigation — denied protests (28 U.S.C. § 1581(a)), penalty actions (28 U.S.C. § 1582), and refund cases — are heard at the CIT, not state court. An attorney who cannot appear there will have to hand your case to someone else at the courthouse door. Attorney Anatolii Trembach is admitted to the CIT and to the California Bar (#349304).

What is the difference between a customs broker and a customs attorney?

A licensed customs broker files entries and handles routine clearance logistics. A customs attorney handles the legal side: CBP penalty defense (19 U.S.C. § 1592), seizure and forfeiture cases (19 U.S.C. § 1595a), protests (19 U.S.C. § 1514), prior disclosures, audits, and litigation at the Court of International Trade — and your communications are protected by attorney-client privilege, which broker communications are not. The best results usually come from a broker and an attorney working together, each doing what they are licensed to do.

How much does a customs attorney cost in Los Angeles?

Fee structures vary by matter type. At Trembach Law, the initial consultation is free, and tariff-refund recovery (including IEEPA refunds) is handled on contingency — you pay a percentage of what is actually recovered, nothing up front. Penalty defense, seizure cases, and compliance work are typically hourly or flat-fee, scoped in writing before work begins. Be wary of any firm that cannot explain its fee structure clearly in the first conversation.

Do I need a customs attorney located in Los Angeles?

Customs law is federal, so any CIT-admitted attorney can represent you at any U.S. port. But for Los Angeles importers there is real value in local knowledge: the Ports of Los Angeles (CBP Port 2704) and Long Beach (2709) form the largest container gateway in the country, with their own CBP field office, exam stations, and Centers of Excellence workflows. An attorney who regularly works matters at San Pedro Bay knows the local FP&F office, the exam-site logistics, and the port-specific enforcement patterns — which shows up in how fast problems get resolved.

What should I look for before hiring a customs attorney for a CBP penalty or seizure?

Five things: (1) CIT admission — verifiable, not just claimed; (2) specific experience with your problem type — a § 1592 penalty, a § 1595a seizure, a UFLPA detention, and a refund claim are different disciplines; (3) trade-law education, such as an LL.M. in international trade or business law; (4) a clear fee structure in writing; and (5) responsiveness — CBP deadlines run in days (seizure elections ~30 days, protests 180 days from liquidation), so an attorney who takes a week to return calls is a liability. Anyone guaranteeing an outcome is a red flag: no honest lawyer guarantees results against the federal government.

Contact Trembach Law Firm

Trembach Law Firm, APC

27001 Agoura Road, Suite 350, Calabasas, CA 91301

Phone: (818) 514-7680

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