Rebecca Ugolick

Handling Complex Property Damage and Insurance Claims across North Carolina

Rebecca’s passion for property insurance law was fueled by witnessing the devastating impact of hurricanes on the coast of North Carolina. Rebecca and her family have experienced property loss, and she uses her personal passion to apply her knowledge of property insurance law when representing her clients.

Experience in Handling Complex Property Damage and Insurance Claims

A skilled litigator with extensive experience in property insurance law, Rebecca helps clients navigate a variety of property damage and insurance claims issues:

  1. Bad faith practices and unfair claims practices: Rebecca is tenacious about holding insurance companies accountable for unfair claims and bad faith practices. She is determined to get justice and fair compensation for her clients, so she does not hesitate to challenge the actions of insurance companies, no matter the size of the company.
  2. Insurance appraisal disputes: Rebecca can help navigate you through the insurance appraisal process. She can petition the court to appoint an insurance umpire to help move the appraisal process along. Rebecca is knowledgeable about case law specific to the insurance appraisal process, so she can advise you on whether the insurance company and its appraiser are playing by the rules. To increase your chances of receiving the maximum compensation covered in your policy, Rebecca can also help you with any litigation resulting from an insurance appraisal.
  3. Complicated claims: Rebecca has the knowledge and network to assist you with complicated insurance claims. After experiencing property loss, you do not have to battle insurance companies alone—Rebecca will explain the claims handling process and make sure that you or your company are being treated fairly, no matter how complicated the claim.
  4. Complex residential and commercial insurance coverage disputes: Rebecca represents individual policyholders, HOAs with group policies, multi-family unit policyholders, as well as commercial entities like churches, restaurants, car dealerships, event venues, and other business owners who are navigating insurance claim disputes related to catastrophic losses.

Commitment to Excellence in Property Insurance Law

Rebecca represents clients in all phases of litigation, including examinations under oath, depositions, hearings, arbitrations, mediations, and bench and jury trials. She is experienced in appellate advocacy and has drafted written appeals to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Rebecca has prevailed in written appeals and oral arguments before the North Carolina Supreme Court.

She has been inducted as a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has been named to the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers. Rebecca was recognized by her peers for Insurance Law in the fourth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. She was also named as a Rising Star by North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2024.

Extensive Legal Admissions and Affiliations

Rebecca received her bachelor’s degree in political science, cum laude, from West Virginia University and her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University. Rebecca is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, all Federal District Courts within the State of North Carolina, and all North Carolina State Courts, including the North Carolina Court of Appeals and North Carolina Supreme Court.

She is a member of her local and state bar associations and an active member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. She serves as a co-regional coordinator for NCAJ’s high school mock trial competition. Additionally, Rebecca serves on the committee for the Insurance Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.

A native of Princeton, West Virginia, Rebecca is a third-generation trial lawyer and the descendant of long line of coal miners to which she credits her strong work ethic and ability to fight for the “little guy.” Her father, Bill Huffman, is a retired litigator and advocate for abused and neglected children. Her late grandfather, Odell Huffman, was raised in the coal camps, and went on to become a respected trial attorney who served multiple terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates, State Senate and is the former Mayor of Princeton that helped to found her local community hospital. Rebecca resides in Raleigh with her husband and daughter, but regularly visits the law offices of Howard Stallings in New Bern and Morehead City.

 

Bar Admissions

  1. United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  2. United States District Court – Eastern District of North Carolina
  3. United States District Court – Middle District of North Carolina
  4. United States District Court – Western District of North Carolina
  5. North Carolina Supreme Court
  6. North Carolina Court of Appeal
  7. All North Carolina Superior & District Courts

Professional Affiliations

  1. North Carolina Advocates for Justice
  2. North Carolina Bar Association
  3. Wake County Bar Association

Awards & Recognitions