Kristin A. Norse focuses her practice exclusively on appellate advocacy and sophisticated civil litigation support, bringing over three decades of legal experience to complex cases. Her practice combines extensive appellate expertise with strategic litigation support at the trial level, ensuring that critical legal issues are properly developed and preserved throughout all stages of litigation.
Ms. Norse has successfully handled well over 100 appeals across diverse areas of law during her more than 20 years in private practice. This experience, combined with her decade of service as senior staff attorney for the Honorable Chris W. Altenbernd at the Second District Court of Appeal, gives her a unique perspective on appellate advocacy. Her appellate experience encompasses complex commercial litigation, significant personal injury cases, employment disputes, civil rights matters, and family law appeals. She is particularly known for her meticulous attention to detail and comprehensive approach to legal analysis.
As part of her commitment to excellence in civil litigation, Ms. Norse provides invaluable support to trial counsel through exhaustive legal research, carefully crafted dispositive motions and responses, and precise argument presentation on critical legal issues. Her experience is particularly valued in complex litigation and class actions, where her thorough analytical approach helps identify and address potential appellate issues before they arise.
Ms. Norse is the immediate past chair of the Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration Committee and holds a prestigious position on the Editorial Board for the American Bar Association’s Litigation Journal. Her leadership in the legal community includes serving as Past Chair of The Florida Bar’s Appellate Practice Section and Appellate Court Rules Committee, Past President of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers and the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, and former Board Member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. She has also served in the past as chair of the HCBA’s Appellate Section and Trial & Litigation Section.
THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA has recognized Ms. Norse’s excellence by naming her the 2026 Tampa “Lawyer of the Year” for Appellate Practice, an honor previously awarded to her in 2020, 2023, and 2024. She is listed in the 2026 edition of THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA for both appellate practice and bet-the-company litigation. FLORIDA SUPER LAWYERS 2025 recognizes her achievements in appellate practice and has named her one of The Top 50 Women Lawyers in Florida and Top 100 Lawyers in Florida. Her expertise in appellate practice has also been acknowledged by Florida Trend’s FLORIDA LEGAL ELITE.
Ms. Norse’s contributions to the legal profession have earned her numerous accolades. In 2025, the Florida Justice Association awarded Ms. Norse the S. Victor Tipton Award for “superior achievement in legal writing.” The Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers has awarded Ms. Norse their HAWL Achievement Award in recognition of her commitment to promoting women in the legal profession and excellence in her career. She has also received the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit’s Professionalism in the Practice of Law Award and two President’s Awards from The Florida Bar—one for her service on the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence Tools & Resources and the other for her work on the Special Committee on Opportunity in the Practice of Law. These honors reflect her dedication to maintaining the highest standards of legal practice while advancing opportunities for others in the profession.
