Kristin A. Norse practices exclusively in the areas of appellate practice and civil litigation support. She has over 25 years of legal experience, including ten years working as a staff attorney for the Honorable Chris W. Altenbernd at the Second District Court of Appeal and more than 15 years representing clients in trial and appellate courts. She has successfully represented individuals and businesses in a number of appeals varying in scope from complex commercial cases to serious personal injury cases to family law appeals. She has also successfully represented clients by providing trial support and performing in-depth legal research, writing, and argument on key issues presented in complex litigation in state and federal courts.
Ms. Norse currently serves on the Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration. She also serves as a member of the Editorial Board for the American Bar Association’s Litigation Journal. Ms. Norse is Past Chair of The Florida Bar’s Appellate Practice Section and Past Chair of The Florida Bar’s Appellate Court Rules Committee. She also served as Co-chair of the Florida Bar’s Special Committee on Gender Bias and Diversity. She is a past President of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Ms. Norse is also a former president of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Hillsborough County Bar Association.
THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA has named Ms. Norse as 2022 Tampa “Lawyer of the Year” for Appellate Practice, an honor she also received in 2020. She is listed in 2021 THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA for appellate practice, and 2021 FLORIDA SUPER LAWYERS for appellate practice and also named as one of The Top 50 Women Lawyers in Florida, and The Top 50 in Tampa Bay. She has also been named by Florida Trend as 2020 FLORIDA LEGAL ELITE for appellate practice.
Kristin Norse has been awarded the 2016 Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers’ Achievement Award. The HAWL Achievement Award is presented to persons who have demonstrated a commitment to the purpose, goals, and mission of HAWL and who has excelled in his or her career, overcome traditional stereotypes associated with women, promoted the status of women within the profession, and promoted the status of women in the State of Florida.
Awards and Honors
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- The Best Lawyers in America 2023, 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” for Appellate Practice
- Tampa Magazine Top Lawyer, Appellate Practice, 2021
- Listed in The Best Lawyers In America for Appellate Practice
- Listed in Florida Super Lawyers, Appellate Practice, One of The Top 50 Tampa Bay Lawyers, The Top 50 Women Lawyers in Florida, and The Top 100 Attorneys in Florida
- Listed in Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite for Appellate Practice
- Recipient of Hillsborough County Bar Association Professionalism Award, 2021
- Recipient of Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers Achievement Award, 2016
- Recipient of Florida Association for Florida Women Lawyers’ “Leaders in the Law” Award, 2011
- Recipient of Hillsborough Association for Lawyers’ President’s Award, 2011
Professional Experience
- Kynes, Markman & Felman, P.A., Tampa, Florida, 2009-Present
- Second District Court of Appeal, Tampa, Florida, Senior Staff Attorney for Judge Chris W. Altenbernd, 1999-2009
- Harris, Barrett, Mann & Dew, P.A., Sun City Center, Florida, 1997-1999
- Hampton, Stoddard, Griffin & Runnells, P.A., Brandon, Florida, 1992-1997
- Cobb, Cole & Bell, Daytona Beach, Florida, Summer 1991
Professional Activities, Bar Associations and Organizations
- The Florida Bar
- Rules of Judicial Administration Committee
Secretary, 2020-2023; Member, 2019-present - Appellate Practice Section
Past Chair, 2017-2018; Member, 2009-present
Past Chair, Publications Committee - Appellate Court Rules Committee
Past Chair, 2016-2017; Member, 2011-2017 - Special Committee on Gender Bias and Diversity Co-Chair, 2017-2018; Member, 2016-2017
- Citizens Advisory Committee
Past Member, 2016-2017
- Florida Association of Women Lawyers, President, 2015-2016
- Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, President 2008-2009
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Chair of the Trial & Litigation Section
- Past Member, Board of Directors
- Past Chair, Appellate Practice Section
- Past Editor, “The Lawyer,” HCBA’s monthly magazine
- Past Co-Chair, Law Follies Committee
Selected Lectures
- “Making a Clear Record and Other Evidentiary Challenges in the Zoom Era,” moderated panel discussion for the Hillsborough County Bar Association, October 26, 2020.
- “Judicial Perspective: Remote Oral Arguments,” moderated a panel discussion webinar for The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, June 30, 2020.
- “This Case is Going Downhill! When Can I Take it UP? Appellate Jurisdiction Over Nonfinal Orders,” webinar presented to the Florida Justice Association, June 25, 2020.
- “Exploring the Experiences of Women of Color in the Legal Profession,” moderated panel discussion for the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, October 12, 2018.
- “Jury Instructions in Employment Cases,” presented for the National Employment Lawyers Association, Sept. 14, 2018
- “11th Circuit Year in Review,” co-presented with a focus on employment cases for the American Constitution Society, July 18, 2018
- “Jury Instructions & Verdict Forms in Civil and Criminal Cases,” co-presented for the Trial and Litigation Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, May 2, 2018
- “Offsets from Collateral Sources,” webinar presentation for the Florida Justice Association, April 27, 2018
- “Implicit Bias and the #MeToo Movement,” panelist for the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, March 21, 2018
- “Update on the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure,” webinar presentation for The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, Sept. 19, 2017
- “History in the Making: The Constitutional Revision Commission,” moderated a panel discussion on the history and current status of the CRC, co-sponsored by The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section and the Florida District Court of Appeals Judge’s Conference, Sept. 6, 2017
- “It’s a trap! How to Avoid Being Ambushed by New Appellate Rules,” for The Florida Bar on May 4, 2017
- “Know Your Worth,” moderated a panel discussion on law firm economics, compensation models, factors for advancement, and how a lawyer can quantify her value to her law firm, April 22, 2016, sponsored by the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, in Naples, Florida.
- “Appellate Jurisdiction: The Basic Analytical Structure Tested with a Few Legal/Ethical Problems,” co-presented with Hon. Chris W. Altenbernd at the 2015 Annual Education Program of the Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges, September 9, 2015, sponsored by the Conference and the Appellate Practice Section of the Florida Bar, held in Ponte Vedra, FL
- “Gimme Some Money: Affiliate Financing,” presented at the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 2015 Spring Meeting, May 14, 2015
- “Preserving Error in Employment Cases” co-presented at the 2011 Florida National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Winter Conference, February 2011
- “Staying in the Game: Women, Leadership and the Law” panelist for Lawyers Leaders Roundtable on Jan. 29, 2015, sponsored by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
- “Basic Appellate Practice: The Opinion is Out—Now What?” for The Florida Bar, Oct. 8, 2010
- “Attorneys’ Fees on Appeal in Domestic Relations Cases,” co-presented with the Hon. Chris W. Altenbernd in Tampa, FL, on Jan. 29, 2009 as part of “Family Law Appeals,” sponsored by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee and the Appellate Practice Section
- “Appellate Practice for the General Practitioner: Preparing the Record, Motion Practice, and Writing the Brief,” presentation on Nov. 15, 2006, in Tampa, Florida, sponsored by Lorman Education Services
- “The Art of Legal Research: Step-By-Step Analysis of How a Research Guru Thinks Plus Common Mistakes Attorneys Make,” presentation at a seminar sponsored by the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers in Tampa, Florida, Oct. 29, 2004
- “A Grave Mistake: Failing to Preserve Your Issues for Appeal,” presented to the St. Petersburg Bar Association, Probate and Guardianship Section, St. Petersburg, Florida, Sept. 25, 2003, and to the Clearwater Bar Association, Probate and Guardianship Section, Clearwater, Florida, Jan. 15, 2004
- “Responsibilities of Appellate Court Staff Attorneys: Initial Check of Assigned Cases,” prepared for and presented to staff attorneys at the Second District Court of Appeal as part of an in-house CLE seminar, April 28, 2003
- “Appellate Procedure: Motions,” presented at the Annual Conference of the Florida Trial Court Staff Attorneys Association, Cocoa Beach, Florida, Oct. 10, 2001
- “Taxation Issues for Tax-Exempt Organizations in Florida: Florida Regulations of Fund Raising,” presentation at a seminar sponsored by Lorman Education Services for directors, officers, trustees, controllers, CFOs, tax managers, and accountants, held in Tampa, Florida, Dec. 9, 1998
- Developed mock trial entitled, “State vs. The Wicked Queen” for use in elementary school setting
- Guest lecturer at Stetson University College of Law for Professor Michael Finch and Adjunct Professor Stuart Markman’s Appellate Practice Class on brief writing
Selected Publications
- “Certiorari Review of Orders Denying Discovery,” co-author with Brandon K. Breslow, HCBA Lawyer Magazine, Vol. XXXII, No. 2, Nov.-Dec. 2021, p. 20-21
- Chapter 10, Overview of Extraordinary Writs, co-author with Frances H. Toomey, Florida Appellate Practice, 8th edition
- “Preserving Error: How High is the Bar?” J. Appellate Section, The Record, Vol. XVII, No. 2, Spring 2010, p. 10-11
- “Time is on My Side: Four Steps to Applying the Correct Law,” co-author with Brandon R. Christian, The Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 83, No. 7, p. 44 (July/Aug. 2009)
- “Motion Practice in the District Courts of Appeal,” The Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 81, No. 4, p. 38 (April 2007)
- Assistant Editor, The Florida Bar Pro Se Appellate Handbook, author of chapter entitled, “Preparing the Record in a Worker’s Compensation Appeal”
- “Bridge the Gap Alimony Awards,” with Wesley Pardue, The Family Law Section Commentator, Vol. XXVI, No. 1, p. 27 (Sept. 1999)
- Revised Florida Appellate Practice Guide, Chapter XII: Second District Court of Appeal, 2002, 2003, and 2005
Legal Education
- Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1992
- Co-Director of the Esdaile Moot Court program
Undergraduate Education
- Boston University College of Arts and Sciences, B.A., English, cum laude and Boston University School of Law, from 1986 to 1992, Six-Year Dual Degree Program
Admissions
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- Florida, 1992
- United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1997
- United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. 2008
