Tariff Refund Recovery vs. Hiring a Trade Lawyer
Trade lawyers charge $400-800/hour with no guarantee of recovery. See how a dedicated tariff recovery service compares.
Quick Answer
A dedicated tariff recovery service like Tariff Arrow handles your entire IEEPA refund on contingency — you pay nothing unless we recover your money. Trade lawyers charge hourly rates ($400-800/hr) regardless of outcome, and most aren't specialized in post-ruling CBP protest filings.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Tariff Arrow | Trade Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $0 | $5,000-25,000 retainer |
| Fee structure | Contingency only | Hourly billing |
| IEEPA specialization | ||
| CBP filing handled | ||
| Dedicated case team | Varies | |
| Typical timeline | 3-6 months | 6-18 months |
| Risk to you | Zero | High (pay regardless) |
| Volume processing |
The Problem with Hourly Billing for Tariff Refunds
Trade lawyers typically bill $400-800 per hour, and a single IEEPA refund case can require 20-60+ hours of work. That means you could spend $10,000-50,000 in legal fees before seeing a single dollar returned — and there's no guarantee of success. For smaller importers, the legal fees can exceed the refund amount itself.
Why Specialization Matters
Most trade lawyers handle a broad range of customs and international trade matters. IEEPA tariff recovery is a specific, time-sensitive process that requires deep knowledge of the February 2026 Supreme Court ruling, CBP protest procedures, and the 180-day filing deadline. A dedicated recovery service processes hundreds of these claims, developing streamlined systems that a general practice can't match.
The Contingency Advantage
With Tariff Arrow, your interests are perfectly aligned with ours. We only get paid when you get paid. This means we're incentivized to maximize your recovery and process your claim as quickly as possible. There's zero financial risk to you — if we don't recover your refund, you owe us nothing.
When a Trade Lawyer Makes Sense
If you have an unusually complex case involving ongoing litigation, anti-dumping duties layered on top of IEEPA tariffs, or need representation before the Court of International Trade, a specialized trade attorney may be worth the investment. For straightforward IEEPA refund claims — which represent the vast majority of cases — a dedicated recovery service is faster and more cost-effective.
Pros & Cons
Tariff Arrow
Pros
- No upfront cost or retainer
- Pay only if refund is recovered
- Specialized in IEEPA tariff recovery
- Fast, streamlined process
- Handles all CBP filings
Cons
- Contingency fee on recovered amount
- Not suited for active litigation cases
Trade Lawyer
Pros
- Can handle complex litigation
- Broad trade law expertise
- Court representation available
Cons
- $400-800/hour billing
- Large upfront retainer required
- No guarantee of recovery
- Slower processing timeline
- Not specialized in IEEPA claims
The Bottom Line
For the vast majority of importers seeking IEEPA tariff refunds, a dedicated recovery service offers a better value: zero upfront cost, faster processing, and specialized expertise. You keep more of your refund and take on zero financial risk.
- ✓Zero upfront cost vs. $5,000-25,000+ retainer
- ✓3-6 month processing vs. 6-18 months
- ✓100% aligned incentives through contingency fees
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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