Irina Shabetayev is a Juris Doctor (JD) and a graduate of Florida International University College of Law. Irina received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law from the Moscow State University of Service in 2005.
During law school, Irina served on the board of the Student Organization “Women in Law” and the International Law Student Association.
As a certified intern at the Community Development Clinic, Irina provided pro bono services representing small businesses and nonprofit organizations, gaining experience in the following areas: drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts; drafting and reviewing commercial leases; business entity selection and formation; nonprofit corporations and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status; bylaws; conducting board meetings; basics of copyright and trademark issues; general tax advising and business licensing; and assistance with alternative dispute resolution.
Before joining the Law Office of Elizaveta Samorukova, Irina was an attorney at a civil litigation firm in Miami, focusing on foreclosure defense, family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and domestic violence, and she also collaborated with F.T.I. Consulting. In that role, she worked with U.S. and multinational corporations, conducting legal document review during investigations and preparing responses to inquiries related to accounting and financial reporting compliance, fraud, regulatory matters, and anti-corruption.
In March 2014, Irina became a valued member of the team at the Law Office of Elizaveta V. Samorukova. At our firm, she specializes in various areas of immigration law, primarily asylum, removal defense, petitions for victims of domestic violence (VAWA), complex adjustment-of-status cases, as well as family law matters, assisting clients with divorce, name changes, prenuptial agreements, and other related issues.
Originally from Transnistria, Irina is fluent in Russian and Ukrainian. She is a mother of three sons.
Irina is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Florida Bar, and the American Bar Association. She is licensed to practice law in Florida and practices immigration law in all U.S. states. Irina is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where she assists clients in filing federal lawsuits.
Irina frequently provides free immigration assistance through various seminars, conferences, webinars, and nonprofit immigration projects. She serves as the Chair of the Professional Ethics Committee of the Florida Association of Russian-Speaking Attorneys. Throughout 2022, Irina dedicated many hours to organizing and conducting events to assist refugees forced to immigrate to the United States due to the war in Ukraine. She was recognized and honored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar as a recipient of the Pro Bono Award of the Year for providing legal assistance to individuals on a pro bono basis.