Firm Overview

The APPEL LAW FIRM is an international trade and customs law firm concentrating on United States Customs and international trade related issues.  The firm strives to assist its clients with the complexities of an ever-evolving international trade landscape and comply with United States Customs and other federal regulations.

While importers tend to seek counsel once an issue has arisen, the firm works with clients in a proactive manner to creatively structure their transactions in ways that ensure compliance with the relevant rules and regulations.   Foresight and planning can reduce duties, provide certainty and help avoid problems arising in the first instance.  This leads to greater profits, lower liabilities, the safeguarding of good-will and a competitive advantage. 

With experience gained in representing a diverse client base and the recovery of millions of dollars from Customs, the firm represents its clients before the U.S. Court of International Trade, U.S. Customs and Bureau Protection, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and others.  The firm assists clients to navigate various special duty programs such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), the Generalized System of Preferences program (GSP), the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Israel Free Trade Agreement, amongst others.   

The firm assists in planning for, and the implementation of, Importer Self Assessment (ISA) audits and represents those subject to a Customs audit.  In addition, the firm assists its clients in developing and documenting proper compliance programs and internal control procedures to comply with their “reasonable care” requirements.

Above all, the firm provides each client with personal service in a cost-effective manner to help it navigate the complexities of the ever-changing business environment.

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