Rene Ugarte, Esq.

When you are facing a domestic matter, having an attorney who brings both experience and compassion can make an important difference. Rene Ugarte is a Senior Associate Attorney with Stange Law Firm, proudly serving clients from the firm’s Kansas City, Missouri office. With more than a decade of legal experience across multiple practice areas, Rene is committed to providing steady guidance, attentive communication, and strong advocacy to individuals during difficult times.

Rene earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law, where she completed the Advocacy Certificate and participated in the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy, the Project for Innocence, and the Kansas Supreme Court Research Clinic. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Rene is fluent in Spanish, allowing her to provide accessible, culturally informed legal representation to Spanish-speaking clients throughout the region.

Before joining Stange Law Firm, Rene most recently practiced as a Social Security Disability Attorney, where she prepared clients for administrative hearings, reviewed medical evidence, developed case strategies, and managed a high-volume caseload of more than 250 matters. In this role, she worked closely with individuals facing significant physical and mental health challenges, guiding them through complex federal procedures with compassion and clarity. Prior to that, Rene worked as a bilingual Personal Injury Attorney, where she represented Spanish-speaking clients, drafted pleadings, and negotiated with opposing counsel. Her experience here included handling mediations and helping injured clients understand their case process and expected outcomes. Rene also practiced as a bilingual Workers’ Compensation Attorney, where she filed claims, drafted hearing applications, and questioned expert witnesses.

Rene has a broad litigation background, including civil, criminal, immigration, and Social Security cases, with experience as a managing attorney, public defender, and contract litigator. She has also won appeals in the Missouri Court of Appeals and Kansas Supreme Court. Rene brings extensive courtroom experience and handles sensitive matters with empathy and patience, helping clients navigate legal issues with confidence and support.