Peacock vs Sandler Travis & Rosenberg – Consulting vs Trade Law

Both Peacock Tariff Consulting and Sandler Travis & Rosenberg provide tariff and customs work, but the engagement profiles differ. Sandler Travis & Rosenberg fits active litigation, investigations, or privileged legal work. Peacock fits SMB and lower-mid-market clients ($5M-USMCA50M revenue) needing strategic tariff work – classification, valuation, USMCA qualification, IEEPA refunds, audit response – at SMB pricing.

B2B buyers research by comparison. This page lays out where Sandler Travis & Rosenberg is the right choice, where Peacock is the right choice, and how to decide which fits your actual need. We do not bash competitors; we lay out the trade-offs honestly.

Both firms (or firm types) do real tariff work for real clients. The question is fit – engagement size, scope, pricing model, and the specific kind of expertise needed.

When Sandler Travis & Rosenberg is the right choice

Use Sandler Travis & Rosenberg when these conditions apply:

1. Active CIT litigation or appeals
2. Active AD/CVD investigation participation requiring attorney admission to ITC/Commerce
3. Section 1592 penalty defense
4. Internal investigation work product privilege protections

When Peacock is the right choice

Use Peacock when these conditions apply:

1. Pre-litigation tariff work – classification, valuation, USMCA qualification, audit response
2. IEEPA refund filings and routine PSC/protest work
3. M&A tariff DD and ongoing advisory
4. Strategic tariff work without privilege requirement

Pricing model comparison

Sandler Travis & Rosenberg bills hourly with retainers; engagements run from $25,000 to multi-million-dollar litigation. Peacock uses fixed-fee or contingency for most engagements; transparent pricing on /pricing/.

Engagement speed comparison

For project work, Peacock typically engages within 1-2 weeks of initial inquiry. Sandler Travis & Rosenberg engagement timing depends on conflict checking and partner availability; can range from days to weeks.

When you need both

These engagement types are not always mutually exclusive. Common patterns:

1. Law firm handles privileged legal work and litigation; Peacock handles pre-litigation tariff strategy and routine compliance.

Bottom line

Choose Sandler Travis & Rosenberg if your needs match the conditions in section 1. Choose Peacock if your needs match section 2. Both serve real clients well; the right answer depends on your actual situation. The free 15-minute scoping call is the lowest-cost way to confirm fit.

Frequently asked questions

Are you the same as Sandler Travis & Rosenberg?

No. Peacock is an independent boutique tariff and customs advisory firm based in Orillia, Ontario. Sandler Travis & Rosenberg is a different firm/firm-type with a different business model.

Do you compete directly with Sandler Travis & Rosenberg?

Partially – for non-litigation tariff work, we offer an alternative at SMB pricing. For active litigation or privileged legal work, you need an attorney.

Can I use both?

Often yes. See “When you need both” above. Many clients use Peacock for routine tariff strategy and Sandler Travis & Rosenberg for specific situations where their model is the right fit.

How do I decide?

Match your situation against the “when Sandler Travis & Rosenberg” and “when Peacock” lists above. Or book a free 15-minute scoping call – we will tell you honestly if your engagement fits us better than Sandler Travis & Rosenberg or vice versa.

Do you ever recommend clients to Sandler Travis & Rosenberg?

Yes – when the engagement profile genuinely fits them better. We do not refer for fee or revenue share; the recommendation is honest.