Great Lakes Customs Law is the law firm for importers, travelers, and businesses facing tough U.S. Customs issues. For more than 15 years, we’ve helped clients respond to seizures, penalties, audits, and delayed or detained shipments—recovering millions while protecting reputations and livelihoods. We know how stressful it is when CBP action disrupts operations or travel plans, so we focus on clear advice and practical next steps from day one. Our attorneys represent clients directly before U.S. Customs & Border Protection and, when needed, at the U.S. Court of International Trade. If you’re unsure what your rights are or what to do next, we offer a free, confidential consultation to review your situation and explain your options in plain language. Whether you’re a first-time importer or a company with complex supply chains, Great Lakes Customs Law is here to help you move forward with confidence.
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Peer Reviewed Rated
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Avvo Client's Choice
This award is granted to attorneys with at least 5 reviews with 4+ stars in a given year on Avvo.com.
About Awards
Client Champion Awards
Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity
and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service.
Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.
At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.
At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.
At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.
Great Lakes Customs Law got this award in 2021
Martindale Peer Awards
A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
Avvo Awards
Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A,
publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.
Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.
I highly recommend Jason for anyone seeking reliable legal representation. Throughout my case, he demonstrated extensive knowledge and provided clear, practical guidance every step of the way. His instructions were always easy to understand and he is very organized, which made the process much less stressful. He consistently answered all of my questions promptly and thoroughly, ensuring I was informed and confident throughout the case. I am very grateful for his support and would not hesitate to work with him again or recommend him to others.
Total satisfaction with the results, from the beginning, explaining how everything works, what was needed for the case to be successful, the communication throughout the process, until the case was resolved
I cannot recommend my customs attorney enough. We were facing a customs issue involving a bill of nearly $200,000, and he was able to step in, navigate the situation professionally, and negotiate it down to approximately $20,000. Throughout the entire process, he was knowledgeable, responsive, strategic, and extremely experienced with import and customs matters. If you are dealing with import/export issues, customs disputes, duties, or international trade concerns, I highly recommend reaching out to him. His expertise saved our company a substantial amount of money and stress.
Jason did a great job representing us. He is very knowledgeable, thorough, and organized. His guidance resulted in the best outcome possible. We are very happy with his service and highly recommend him.
We needed fast, reliable guidance on a complex HS classification issue with real financial impact. We’ve used this firm multiple times and keep coming back for a reason. They provided clear, well-supported guidance on a complex HS classification with real financial impact, plus practical help to correct prior entries. Responsive, professional, and reliable under deadline pressure.
I've been working with Jason on a couple border / customs dispute cases. He has been great. Responds to my calls and emails promptly and has delivered on everything he has promised. I would highly recommend Jason as an attorney.
I’d recommend Jason and his firm this firm without hesitation. Great lawyer . Jason was very helpful. I wish all lawyers were like him. He took my case and the outcome was very acceptable and positive.
I had a series of customs valuation and compliance questions and needed clear, practical advice. The firm was responsive and explained the rules in a way that was easy to understand. They helped me navigate tricky issues, avoid potential penalties, and make informed decisions with confidence.
I highly recommend Mr. Jason P. Wapiennik. They were very professional, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout my case. They kept me informed every step of the way and truly cared about helping me. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, we won the case. I’m very grateful for everything they did and would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an excellent lawyer.
I had an excellent experience working with Jason Wapiennik throughout my customs-related case. He was extremely knowledgeable, professional, and supportive during the entire process. He gave me clear direction, helped me understand every step, and made sure all the important points were properly addressed. Thanks to his hard work and guidance, we had a very positive outcome. I truly appreciated his communication, dedication, and attention to detail. I highly recommend Jason to anyone needing legal assistance in customs or related matters. 100% excellent experience.
Martindale-Hubbell® Client Review Ratings™ display reviews submitted by individuals who have either hired or consulted the lawyers or law firms.
The Client Review Rating score is determined through the aggregation of validated responses. People who submit reviews are either individuals who consulted with the lawyer/law firm or who hired the lawyer/law firm and want to share their experience of that lawyer or law firm with other potential clients. Reviewers can be anyone who consults or hires a lawyer including in-house counsel, corporate executives, small business owners, and private individuals.
Martindale-Hubbell validates that a reviewer is a person with a valid email address. As part of the review process, respondents must affirm that they have had an initial consultation, are currently a client or have been a client of the lawyer or law firm identified, although Martindale-Hubbell cannot confirm the lawyer/client relationship as it is often confidential. The content of the responses is entirely from reviewers.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome and Martindale-Hubbell accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of any review. For more information on Martindale-Hubbell Client Review Ratings, please visit our Client Review Page
Martindale Peer Reviews
Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ are the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century. These ratings indicate attorneys who are widely respected by their peers for their ethical standards and legal expertise in a specific area of practice.
The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings process is the gold standard due to its objectivity and comprehensiveness. Lawyers solicited for peer reviews include both those selected by the attorney being reviewed and lawyers independently selected by Martindale-Hubbell. All reviewers are verified as attorneys through Martindale-Hubbell’s extensive attorney database. Only attorneys practicing at least three years and receiving a sufficient number of reviews from non-affiliated attorneys are eligible to receive a Rating.
What are the different Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings?*
• AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
Lawyers who have received peer reviews after 2009 will display more detailed information, including practice areas, summary ratings, detailed numeric ratings and written feedback (if available). Details for individual reviews received before 2009 are not displayed.
Attorneys that receive reviews from their peers, but not a sufficient number to establish a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, will have those reviews display on our websites.
Ratings and reviews are feedback from people who have either consulted an attorney about an issue (but may not have hired the attorney) or people who hired an attorney as a current or former client and provided their feedback to our sister site, Avvo.com.