Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
5.0 /5.0
61 Client Reviews
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Jason P. Wapiennik
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About Jason
Biography
If you or your business is facing challenges with U.S. Customs & Border Protection, you need an experienced customs lawyer on your side.
My name is Jason Wapiennik, and for more than 15 years, I have been providing valuable help to individuals and importers across the country who faced some challenge with U.S. Customs & Border Protection through my firm, Great Lakes Customs Law. My clients’ cases regularly make it into the national headlines and CBP news releases.
• 15+ years focused exclusively on customs law
• 700+ cases handled
• $11M+ recovered for clients
• 100+ active matters at any given time
• Barred in Illinois and Michigan
Customs Law Experience
I represent client’s before U.S. Customs & Border Protection and am able to help in nearly any area, whether it is a penalty, a seizure, prior disclosure, request for information, protests, internal advice requests, AD/CVD scope rulings, offers in compromise, drawback rulings, tariff classification, compliance advice, and other case types, including cases in the Federal District court system and the Court of International Trade.
I know the ins-and-outs of the Fines, Penalties & Forfeitures (FP&F) process at the ports around the country, and at any given point in time have around 100 matters pending before U.S. Customs & Border Protection. I have developed excellent working relationships with the FP&F officers, supervisors, and paralegals at many ports around the country, who respect me and my work, and the results I am able to obtain for my clients. In some ports, no law firm has more of a presence in matters being decided by FP&F.
Before making my own success, I trained as a clerk at the customs law firm of Edmund Maciorowski, P.C., in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan from 2007 until founding Great Lakes Customs Law in 2009.
Large law firms who need my expertise unsuccessfully try to recruit me approximately every 2 years. My references from past clients are available upon request.
National Reach
As my firm name suggests, Great Lakes Customs Law has offices in both Chicago and Detroit to serve our clients face-to-face. However, given the nature of modern business practices and everyone’s busy schedules (especially since Covid-19), I am remotely available everywhere.
Results You Can See
You can see my results in penalty cases, which are tracked here and regularly updated: Penalty and Liquidated Damages Case Outcomes. You can see the results in the over 650 currency seizure cases, where Customs has seized money (because the cash was not reported, smuggled, or structured) here: Currency Seizure Case Outcomes. Some of the rulings letters that I have obtained for my importer clients are published on CBP’s CROSS System.
Less visibly, I have also argued before the United States Court of International Trade, negotiated a substantial reduction in $146,815 penalty for allegedly importing counterfeits in a virtually unprecedented case in Eastern District of Michigan, and have resolved numerous seizure and forfeiture matters with the U.S. attorney’s office or the attorneys at CBP’s Office of Chief Counsel, prior to matter ever going to court.
In addition to these public proceedings, I have advised clients and made many prior disclosures under § 592 for importers, obtained favorable prospective binding rulings, provided guidance to clients on tariff classification, country of origin, antidumping and countervailing duties, valuation issues, without the need to resort to the formal prospective ruling process. In some cases, I have saved companies millions of dollars with a few short hours of sound advice and attention to their needs.
Education
I attended Purdue University and later transferred to Loyola University Chicago, where I graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Political Science magna cum laude and with departmental honors. I am a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society. I attended Ave Maria School of Law, then located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and primarily reside in Michigan. I have lived in Chicago, Rome, Italy (attending the John Felice Rome Center), and Krakow Poland (Jagiellonian University for the International Business & Trade Summer Law Program) as part of my education. I am the recipient of a scholarship from the Kosciuszko Foundation in 2006.
Personal
I am married to Joanna Wapiennik. Together, we have three young children, Jacob, Victoria and Maximilian. All four light up my life, making me a very lucky and fulfilled man, personally and professionally. I love family life, music, religious expression, Polish (and other slavic cultures) culture, talking with (most) foreign-born Americans, history, reading to my children, time spent talking about life and current events with my friends, red wine, dark beer, and in the right setting, very cold vodka.
A customs lawyer for importers
Practice Areas
2
Practice Areas
International Law
95%
17 years | 700 cases
Estate Planning
5%
16 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
$ 750-750 per hour
Contingency
10%-33%
Retainer
Always
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Awards
2026 2017 2016
...
+
1
Licenses
Licensed in Illinois for 10 years
State: Illinois
Acquired: 2016
No misconduct found
Licensed in Michigan for 16 years
State: Michigan
Acquired: 2009
No misconduct found
Location
Great Lakes Customs Law
(734) 292-4245
Mobile
32437 5 Mile Road, Livonia, MI, 48154
greatlakescustomslaw.com/Great Lakes Customs Law
(734) 292-4245
Mobile
333 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60604
greatlakescustomslaw.com/Online Presence
Other places you can find Jason online.
Jason P. Wapiennik's Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 5 of 11 reviews | Communication Style
Posted by Monica | May 13, 2026 | Hired Attorney | International Law
Cuatoms Law Case
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 addr...
Posted by Andy | May 13, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Antitrust & Trade Law
Highly Recommend Jason for CBP Seizure Cases
Jason's legal expertise was invaluable as he represented my wife in a counterfeit seizure case involving CBP, and we couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome. Throughout the entire process, Jason was professional, efficient, and communicated clearly every step of the way. He made what could have ...
Posted by Yi | May 08, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Amazing and trustworthy lawyer!
I initially thought my case was hopeless. I had contacted numerous other law firms before, but none of their responses sounded as trustworthy as this lawyer's, so a friend helped me find this firm through an article on the news. Most importantly, the lawyer showed great empathy, genuinely comprehende...
Posted by Guia | July 01, 2019 | Hired Attorney
Professional, honest, efficient, understanding
Title says it all! Jason took on my case and from start to finish, handled it professionally, kindly, and very efficiently. The entire process was painless, his rate extremely reasonable, and the outcome was exactly as he predicted. I truly appreciated the fact that he took the time to inform me of ...
Posted by anonymous | June 18, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Immigration
Great service and appreciate the help from Houston customer
Was coming to the States for international residential work assignment and accidentally encounter difficulty with Customs. Later noted about Jason from the website and contact for consultant. He presented good understanding and knowledge in the matter I am facing so I made a service agreement with hi...
Jason P. Wapiennik's Lawyer Endorsements
"I strongly endorse Mr. Wapiennik. It has been my pleasure to have Mr. Wapiennik as my go-to resource for customs and international trade law. Mr. Wapiennik's knowledge of this niche and complex area of law is thorough and up-to-date."
Anthony Alt
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Leo Neville
Estate planning lawyer
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George Gostias
Criminal defense lawyer
Alexander Leveque
Litigation lawyer
Justin Stovall
Appeals lawyer
Experience
Honors
2006
Kosciuszko Foundation Scholarship, Koscuiszko Foundation
Work Experience
2009 - Present
Owner, Great Lakes Customs Law
2007 - 2009
, Edmund Maciorwoski, PC
Sample of Legal Cases
United States v. Ramos
Settled
2015-3901-000043-01
$19,000 returned
Education
2008
Ave Maria School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2005
Loyola University Chicago
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Publications
2014
Great Lakes Customs Law Blog
Targeted Enforcement of Customs Currency Seizures
2012
Great Lakes Customs Law Blog
Responding to a Customs Currency Seizure
Languages
English
Polish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
If you currently reside in The US with an expired visa and just got a DUI, is there a possibility of getting deported?
13 May 2010
Q&A
Can I use an EIN from an old business for a new new business?
12 Apr 2010