Laura DeBruce

Laura DeBruce is a lawyer and entrepreneur who has owned a home on Sanibel since 2010 and been an island resident since 2015. After graduating from the University of Florida (B.S., Communications) and Boston University Law School, she traveled to then-Czechoslovakia to teach university courses in U.S. Constitutional Law. Laura was an associate at Baker & McKenzie in Prague and then Director of Legal Affairs for CME Media Enterprises, where she played a key role in launching several television stations throughout Eastern Europe. Subsequently she co-founded GrandView Castle Entertainment with her husband, Jeff Blackman, distributing motion pictures throughout Eastern Europe and Russia for clients that included DreamWorks, Paramount, and LucasFilm.

As a partner in DeBruce Blackman, PLLC, Laura provides legal and consulting advice. She has also produced several documentary films. In 2018, Laura and Jeff started Sanibel Carts, renting street-legal, electric golf carts to residents and visitors on Sanibel Island. They have a son, Luke Blackman, who currently lives in St. Pete. Laura is on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for Community Housing and Resources. She also serves on the Sanibel Planning Commission. Laura is active with Zonta and is a founding member of the Sanibel Captiva Business Women’s Association.