Kay Nord Hunt

Kay Nord Hunt

Areas of Practice: Appeals, Insurance Coverage, Professional Liability, Workers’ Compensation Appeals 

Office Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota / Hudson, Wisconsin 

Direct: 612.336.9341 / Email: kay@lommen.com 

Download vcard

Kay Nord Hunt / Biography

Kay Nord Hunt is an appellate advocate who has handled over 600 appeals to the Minnesota and Wisconsin appellate courts, the Seventh and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeal, other specialty courts and other courts around the nation where she appears pro hac vice. As Lommen Abdo is a broad-based litigation firm, she has handled appeals in virtually every area of the law. Because of her experience in appellate practice, she also regularly associates with other law firms to assist them with their appeals. 

There is a distinction between trial work and appellate advocacy that is sometimes difficult to discern when the trial lawyer is so close to a case. Both Kay’s clients and referring attorneys find it helpful to engage her to obtain an independent opinion to refocus on the pivotal issues to be presented on appeal. As appellate counsel, she sees the case the same way an appellate court does — from a written record. She understands how appellate judges think, knows the standards of review, and focuses on making the appeal as persuasive as possible. 

Her cases are all in the civil arena, such as disputes involving trusts, liens, insurance, employment, contracts, professional liability, family law, medical malpractice and many other areas. She works closely with trial lawyers in developing arguments and making sure arguments or theories are preserved for a possible appeal. 

Kay is a member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for her work in Appellate Practice and Bet-the-Company Litigation, and was named the “Minneapolis Best Lawyers Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year” for 2025, 2018 and 2012 and was named the “Minneapolis Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Bet-the-Company Litigation in 2024 and 2022. She has been on the Super Lawyers list in the area of appellate advocacy for many years, was listed as a Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyer in 2023 and from 2010 to 2021, and a Top 50 Woman Super Lawyer from 2010 to 2023.  She was selected as a “Minnesota Attorney of the Year” in 2013 by Minnesota Lawyer. She is a former adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. She was appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to serve on the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure. She is rated AV Preeminent® for the highest level of professional excellence by Martindale-Hubbell. 

She is an avid Viking and Gopher fan, has many rescue pets and travels extensively. 

Leadership + Activities

  • American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Member 
  • Minnesota State Bar Association (including Hennepin County Bar Association)
  • State Bar of Wisconsin 

Feedback

I refer almost all of my Appellate work to Kay Nord Hunt. She and her team are the best.

Kathleen M. Newman

I have worked with Kay Nord Hunt, at Lommen Abdo, on a few cases and consulted on others. She is a wealth of knowledge, eminently professional and an excellent writer.

Susan Gallagher 

I would highly recommend Kay Nord Hunt of Lommen Abdo to anyone seeking to appeal a family law decision.

Diane M. Kaer

I worked with Kay Nord Hunt and Joshua Feneis as co-counsel on a post-decree matter. They were absolutely fantastic to work with and provided competent representation for my client.

Angela Lallemont

Kay Hunt is my go-to Appellate expert.

Brian L. Sobol

Kay Nord Hunt of Lommen Abdo did excellent work. Her legal acumen and appellate practice are first-rate. She provided excellent value for the price.

Presentations

  • “Presidential Eligibility and Immunity,” 2024 U.S. Supreme Court Update, Minnesota CLE, August 2024
  • “DEI in Employment – What’s Changed and What Hasn’t After the SCOTUS Higher Ed Decisions,” 2023 Labor & Employment Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, November 2023
  • “Courts and Executive Agencies – Declining Judicial Deference,” 2023 U.S. Supreme Court Update, Minnesota CLE, August 2023
  • “Introduction to Commercial Insurance for the Business Lawyer – Primary Coverage, Subordination, Claims-Made, Prior Acts, Tail Coverage and More,” Business Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, June 2023
  • “Religion – Free Exercise, Free Speech and the Establishment Cause,” U.S. Supreme Court Update, Minnesota CLE, August 2022
  • “Making Post-Trial Motions and Initiating Appeals,” Civil Litigation A to Z, Minnesota CLE, September 2021
  • “Post-Trial Motion Procedures – What You Need to Consider Before the Appeal Process,” Minnesota CLE, December 2019
  • “How to Protect Your Trial Record for Appeal: Lessons for Family Lawyers,” Minnesota CLE, November 2019
  • “Legal Malpractice Actions and Ethics Issues Related to Bankruptcy Matters,” 2019 Bankruptcy Institute, Minnesota CLE, October 2019
  • “Voting Law & Today’s U.S. Supreme Court – What Are the Constraints on Political Gerrymandering?” Moderator, Big New U.S. Supreme Court Decisions Seminar, Minnesota CLE, August 2019
  • “Making Post-Trial Motions and Initiating Appeals,” Civil Litigation A to Z: The Endgame, Minnesota CLE, June 2019
  • “Claim Repair After Losing a Verdict,” MLM Defense Panel Seminar, June 2019
  • “Recurring Issues: Post-Hearing, Post-Trial and Beyond,” Procedural Issues in Family Law Seminar, Ramsey County Bar Association Family Law Section, October 2018
  • “Preserving the Record for Appeal,” Candid Conversations, Hennepin County Bar Association Bench & Bar Committee, March 2018
  • “Divorce A to Z: How to Appeal Decisions in Family Court Matters,” Minnesota CLE, November 2017
  • “Civil Litigation A to Z: The End Game – Making Post-Trial Motions & Initiating Appeals,” Minnesota CLE, June 2017
  • “The Marriage is Ending. Now What? Who Gets What? What do I Need to Know?” Aging But Dangerous/Lommen Abdo, 2016
  • Appellate Case Preparation Start to Finish, “Making an Ethical Appeal” and “Oral Argument Techniques that Get Results,” National Business Institute, 2016
  • “Handling Appeals (and Building an Appellate Practice in the Process),” Minnesota CLE, 2015
  • “Pfeiffer: How Does it Impact Expert Review Practice,” 2015 Medical Malpractice Conference, Minnesota Association for Justice/HCBA/Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, 2015
  • “The U.S. Supreme Court’s Big New Decisions,” Minnesota CLE, 2015
  • “The U.S. Supreme Court’s Big New Decisions,” Minnesota CLE, 2014
  • “Post-Trial Motion Procedures and Appeals,” Minnesota Civil Practice Deskbook Seminar, Minnesota CLE, 2014
  • “Child Relocation: How to Create an Effective Record to Succeed at the Trial Court,” Hennepin County Bar Association, 2014
  • “New Law Series: The Loss of Chance Doctrine in Minnesota – Dickhoff v. Green,” Minnesota CLE, 2013
  • “The U.S. Supreme Court’s Big New Decisions,” Minnesota CLE, 2013
  • “Top Ten Tips for Family Law Appellate Practice,” Hennepin County Bar Association/Ramsey County Bar Association, 2013
  • “Preserving Issues for Appeal: Post-Trial Motions,” Fifth Annual Appellate Practice Institute, Minnesota CLE, 2011
  • “Watch and Learn: A Unique Approach to Learning About Effective Motion Practice,” Hennepin County Bar Association, 2011
  • “Verdicts, JMOL, Post-Trial Procedures & Motions,” Minnesota CLE, 2009
  • “Legal Malpractice Actions and Ethics Issues Related to Bankruptcy Matters,” Minnesota CLE, 2009

Published Articles

  • “Chapter 8: Standing Vehicles” and “Chapter 11: Accidents Involving Speed,” Contributor to Sixth Edition of the Motor Vehicle Accident Deskbook, Minnesota CLE, May 2023
  • “Chapter 14: Select Commercial General Liability Policy Exclusions,” Update to Fifth Edition of the Minnesota Insurance Law Deskbook, Minnesota CLE, April 2023
  • “Chapter 14: Select Commercial General Liability Policy Exclusions,” Update to Fifth Edition of the Minnesota Insurance Law Deskbook, Minnesota CLE, July 2021
  • “Review by Extraordinary Writ in Civil Cases,” Chapter 20, 2020 Eighth Circuit Appellate Practice Deskbook
  • “Ethical Issues on Appeal,” (Co-Author), 19 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 659, 1993

Education

  • Gustavus Adolphus College, B.A., summa cum laude, 1977 
  • Marquette University, J.D., 1981 

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota, 1982 
  • Wisconsin, 1981 
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 1983 
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1981 
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 1981 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1984 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1984 
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2000 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2008 
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 2010 
View All of Kay Nord Hunt's Videos
Connect on LinkedIn

Awards

News + Articles

Top Ten Tips for Family Law Appellate Practice

by | Jun 19, 2013

Kay Hunt spoke on June 19, 2013 at a family law CLE presented jointly by the Hennepin County Bar Association and Ramsey County Bar Association with the Honorable Francis Connolly, Minnesota Court of Appeals; the Honorable John Rodenberg, Minnesota Court of Appeals;...

Preserving Issues for Appeal: Post-Trial Motions

by | Mar 4, 2011

Kay Hunt moderated a panel during the Fifth Annual Appellate Practice Institute by Minnesota CLE on March 4, 2011, “Preserving Issues for Appeal: Post-Trial Motions.”   Panel description: The appellate process actually starts well before the notice of appeal is...

Family Law; How Far Have We Really Come?

by | Oct 27, 2009

Kay Hunt spoke on October 27, 2009 at Gender Fairness in the Courts: A 20 Year Retrospective, held in conjunction with the Minnesota Women Lawyers. Kay presented with Susan Rhode on “Family Law: How Far Have We Really Come?”

Verdicts, JMOL, Post-Trial Procedures & Motions

by | Oct 22, 2009

Kay Hunt spoke at a Minnesota CLE seminar, How to Litigate the Civil Case in Minnesota on October 22, 2009. Kay presented on “Verdicts, JMOL, Post-Trial Procedures & Motions (including preserving the right to appeal).”