Complex Claims & Legal Referrals

When You Might Need Legal Support

Most IEEPA refund claims can be filed using the CAPE process with our free guides. But some situations require specialized trade law expertise and litigation support.

Entries Not Eligible for CAPE

Some IEEPA entries can't be processed through CAPE due to entry structure, goods classification complexity, or other procedural barriers. Legal review determines alternative filing options.

Disputed HTS Classification

If CBP disagrees on the HTS code classification (which affects whether entries are IEEPA-eligible), you may need to litigate the classification in the Court of International Trade (CIT).

CBP Disagrees on IEEPA Coverage

CBP might dispute whether certain entries are actually subject to IEEPA tariffs, or dispute your calculation of the IEEPA portion. This requires legal argument at the CIT.

High-Value Claims Requiring CIT Litigation

Large claims with significant refund amounts may warrant proactive CIT litigation to secure recovery before CBP processes the claim.

Entries Tied to Ongoing Trade Disputes

If your entries are involved in government trade disputes (e.g., 201 safeguards, countervailing duty investigations), the legal pathway to recovery is more complex.

What We Do

ClaimFlow connects you with a network of pre-vetted trade attorneys and customs law specialists who have deep experience with IEEPA refund litigation. We act as your gateway to legal expertise without the typical markup or complexity of hiring a law firm directly.

Why Through ClaimFlow?

Pre-vetted Specialists — All attorneys in our network specialize in IEEPA and customs law. No generalists.
IEEPA-Specific Pricing — Our legal partners offer lower-cost solutions specifically designed for IEEPA refund cases (not expensive, full-service trade litigation).
Pre-negotiated Rates — We've negotiated standard fee structures with our attorneys so you're not paying inflated rates.
Transparent Referral Model — We don't markup attorney fees. We simply connect you, and you contract directly with the attorney.

The Process

1 Free Initial Review

Contact us and describe your claim. We do an initial assessment to determine whether your situation qualifies as "complex" and requires legal support.

2 Match with Legal Partner

If legal support makes sense, we match you with the appropriate attorney from our network based on your specific issue (CIT litigation, HTS classification, CAPE barriers, etc.).

3 Direct Engagement

You contract directly with the attorney. ClaimFlow steps back. You own the relationship and control the legal strategy.

4 Legal Handling

The attorney handles all filing, litigation, correspondence with CBP, and representation at the CIT if needed.

Clear Message: Most Claims Don't Need Legal Support

The vast majority of IEEPA refund claims can be successfully filed through CAPE using our free guides. Legal support is only needed for genuinely complex situations. Don't pay for a lawyer if you don't need one.

Next Steps

If you think your claim might involve complexity beyond the standard CAPE process, get in touch. We'll do a brief initial review and let you know whether legal referral makes sense — with no obligation if it doesn't.