Who is Donna Irvin Sobel?
Manatee County elder law attorney Donna Irvin Sobel is a true example of turning a tragic personal experience into a professional mission. Originally from Cleveland, Georgia, Donna and her husband, fellow attorney Edward Sobel, moved to Manatee County in 1983, where Donna worked as attorney for a local bank until 1990, when her father suffered a debilitating stroke that changed not only his life, but hers as well.
With him suddenly totally incapacitated, Donna and her family begin having to make decisions about his care … without his input.
- Did he want life-saving measures to be taken?
- How much would it cost?
- How would they pay for it?
- Where would he stay?
They did not know the answers, but, while grieving and emotional, they were forced to make one decision after another, until Donna’s father eventually passed away. Having no end-of-life plan in place, his death then presented a whole new set of challenges.
It did not take Donna long to realize the complexities and difficulties inherent in elder law issues. If it was hard for her, a corporate attorney, to understand and navigate, she knew it would be much harder for the average lay person.
Utilizing her first-hand experience, Donna decided to shift the focus of her law practice from Corporate Law to Elder Law. Since then, she has been helping clients and their families navigate the complex and ever-changing legal issues of aging with competence and compassion.
Donna Sobel
Elder Law Attorney
Professional Experience:
Donna holds the following
professional degrees and affiliations:
BS in Education
University of Georgia
Masters in
Rehabilitative Counseling
University of Georgia
Juris Doctorate
Emory University School of Law
Elder Law Specialist
Florida Bar
On a Personal Note…
When not working with her clients, Donna enjoys reading, boating, and attending Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Rays games. She is married to Edward Sobel, a Family Law attorney in Bradenton, and they have 2 children: Isabella, an attorney in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Zack, 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Explosive Ordinance Demolition Division. Also, an animal lover, Donna’s fur family consists of 3 large dogs and 2 cats, and she is the caretaker of a feral cat colony, making sure that they are neutered and spayed.
Donna is also a member of or accredited by:
