About Dubrule & Nowel, PLLC

Compassionate Legal Representation for the Global Community

 
 

Dubrule & Nowel, PLLC is a full service immigration law firm specializing in family reunification, removal defense, and guiding clients through the immigration process from start to finish. Headquartered in Tampa Florida, we have the ability to represent clients wherever they may live.  

We are committed to finding the best solution for your immigration issue, no matter how unique your case may be, and we are often able to find answers to even the most complex cases. At Dubrule & Nowel, PLLC, we believe it is our mission to keep families together in the country that they now call home.  

 
 

John E. Dubrule

John E. Dubrule is an attorney and owner of Dubrule & Nowel, PLLC. A graduate of Boston University School of Law, John has always strived to help others – particularly those in crisis.

In 2004 John founded the Immigration Unit at Gulfcoast Legal Services, Legal Aid allowing for the vital representation of indigent clients in immigration proceedings. John was able to assist a large number of immigrants facing the need to escape domestic abuse while obtaining legal status and those fighting for their right to asylum. Also during this time, John helped to start the Florida Immigration Legal Aid Advocate Coalition. John spent 3.5 years as the Executive Director of Gulfcoast Legal Services, Legal Aid. 

In 2016 John left legal aid in order to start his own law firm, John E. Dubrule, PA. This law firm assisted more than 1200 people with immigration matters such as asylum, TPS, spouse and family petitions, removal defenses, special advocacy for children, and more. However, after meeting Chelsea, he felt that a merger between the firms would be the best way to increase the firm’s impact in the Tampa Bay region. 

John is barred in Florida, New York, and Massachusetts (inactive) and is a member of AILA. He received the Cesar Chavez award from the Sarasota Manatee Farmworker Supporters and the Human Spirit award from Gulfcoast Jewish and Family Services. John has also worked closely with the Haitian community. 

John lives in St Petersburg with his daughter LiLi and his wife Chu Jie, who recently emigrated from China. 

 

Chelsea M. Nowel

Chelsea M. Nowel is an attorney and owner of Dubrule & Nowel, PLLC. Chelsea was raised in Canada, France, and the US. She received her Honors Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, Trinity College and received her law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law where she graduated Cum Laude. Chelsea is trilingual, fluent in English, Spanish, and French.

Chelsea started her career resettling refugees in Cleveland, Ohio. Although she enjoyed the clients, she was frustrated that she could not provide long-lasting solutions to their legal problems. It was at that time that Chelsea realized her desire to practice Immigration and Nationality law.  

After years in a big immigration firm, Chelsea decided to open her own firm, CMN Law, LLC in order to continue her fierce advocacy for intending immigrants to the United States. After meeting John, she felt that a merging of the two firms was the best way to expand her service to immigrants in her community and beyond.  

Chelsea is barred in Ohio and is a member of AILA. She serves on the board of AILA Central Florida as the Tampa Bay Regional Vice Chair and is a member of the EOIR Liaison Committee and the New Members Committee. She was also a distinguished speaker at

  • the 2023 AILA National Conference in Orlando, Florida;

  • the 2022 AILA Central Florida Immigration Law Conference in Clearwater, Florida;

  • the 2019 AILA Central Florida Immigration Law Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida; and

  • the 2019 NAFSA Region VII Conference in Orlando, Florida. 

Chelsea moved to Tampa Bay in 2016 and lives with her husband William and their twin children, Fiona and Michael.