Kevin C. Burke

Direct Number: (502) 709-9990
E-Mail: kevin@burkeneal.com

Kevin C. Burke is a founding member of Burke Neal PLLC. Before co-founding the firm in 2016, Kevin maintained a solo appellate practice for seventeen years. Kevin also tried and litigated civil and criminal cases in state and federal courts, and represented individuals, businesses, professionals, and non-profit organizations before regulatory agencies. Kevin’s experience as a criminal defense attorney spans minor offenses to murder charges. His experience as a civil litigator includes complex litigation, personal injury, wrongful death, insurance and contract disputes, constitutional issues and civil rights, class actions, family law, administrative law, business and employment litigation, and professional negligence.

Kevin currently focuses his practice on appellate litigation and strategic legal counseling. As an appellate attorney, Kevin's body of work includes hundreds of appeals in state and federal appellate courts. Kevin has argued on behalf of appellants, appellees, and amici curiae (“friends of the court”) resulting in numerous precedent-setting opinions, including over 40 published opinions from the Kentucky Supreme Court alone. See a list of recent, representative cases here. As a member of the Kentucky Supreme Court Appellate Rules Committee, Kevin also helped draft the 2023 Rules of Appellate Procedure which modernized and fully replaced Kentucky's old appellate rules.

Kevin is honored that other Kentucky attorneys retain him to address complex legal issues, briefing, and strategy at all stages of their cases from case intake through litigation and on appeal. Individuals and businesses also turn to Kevin for early legal guidance especially in large loss, catastrophic injury, or wrongful death cases.

WHAT OTHERS SAY:

Martindale-Hubbell is the oldest lawyer rating service in the United States based on reviews from practicing lawyers and judges. The following are reviews from other attorneys received during the rating process, resulting in an AV-Preeminent® designation, the highest possible rating:


For a complete list of reviews, click here.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

• AV-Preeminent® Designation Martindale-Hubbell®
  Highest possible national ranking in Appellate Practice, Personal Injury, and Litigation.
• Best Lawyers in America® Appellate Practice, Multiple Years
  Highest possible national ranking in Appellate Practice by U.S. News & World Report.
• Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year 2021 and 2024
  Twice selected by peers as the 27th and 30th Editions "Lawyer of the Year" in Appellate Practice. The “Lawyer of the Year” recognition is awarded to a single lawyer per practice area in a region.
• Kentucky Super Lawyers® Selection, Appellate Practice, Multiple Years
  Highest possible ranking in Appellate Practice by Thomson-Reuters.
• Kentucky Bar Association, Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award
  Awarded by the Kentucky Bar Association to a single attorney in recognition of a record of exceptional and dedicated civic service, community involvement, and legal accomplishment. Kevin received the award in 2013.
• Kentucky Justice Association, Outstanding Board Member of the Year Award
  Awarded by state-wide trial lawyers association to a single board member for his or her dedication and devotion to the principles and ideals of justice. Kevin received the award twice, in 2010 and 2012.
• Louisville Magazine, “Top Lawyer” Rating, Multiple Years
  Selected as a “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine every year the magazine surveyed the Louisville legal community since 2012.

PROFESSIONAL/COMMUNITY SERVICE AND MEMBERSHIPS

• Kentucky Supreme Court Appellate Rules Committee
• Kentucky Bar Association Appellate Advocacy Section
• Kentucky Justice Association Appellate Amicus Curiae Committee
• Kentucky Justice Association Board of Governors
• American Bar Association Council of Appellate Lawyers
• American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition Judge
• American Bar Foundation Life Fellow
• Louisville Bar Foundation Board Member and Fellow
• Leadership Louisville Focus Louisville Graduate
• Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Guest Lecturer, Appellate Practice
• Member of the Louisville Bar Association, Kentucky Bar Association, Kentucky Justice Association, Kentucky Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Life Member), American Bar Association, American Association of Justice, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Life Member), United States Supreme Court Historical Society, Filson Historical Society
• Volunteer, Jefferson County Public Schools: Tully Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, Seneca High School Pre-Law Program, Waggener High School Pre-Law Program

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

• "Critical Update: Reviving Actions after Mr. Roof of Louisville, LLC v. Estate of Henry," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (November 2023)
• "The Real Deal on Appeals: New Rules, Winning Ways," Kentucky Justice Association, Annual Convention, Invited Speaker (September 2023)
• "Preservation of Error," Kentucky Bar Association, Annual Convention, Invited Speaker (June 2023)
• "Pitfalls Involving Deceased Defendants," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (June 2023)
• "Stranger Things: Tackling Technicalities and Gotchas," Kentucky Justice Association, Annual Convention, Invited Speaker (September 2022)
• "New Rules of Appellate Procedure," Judges Program, Kentucky Justice Association, Annual Convention, Invited Speaker (September 2022)
• "Kentucky Appellate Rules: Discussion of the Significant Changes Ahead," Louisville Bar Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (August 2022)
• "Clarity, Precision, and Persuasion in Judicial Opinion Writing," Kentucky Court of Appeals, Summer Judicial Conference, Invited Speaker and Panelist (August 2022)
• "Proposed Rules of Appellate Procedure," The Louisville Group Las Vegas Seminar, Invited Speaker (June 2022)
• "Insurance Bad Faith from Start to Finish," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (June 2022)
• "Key Civil Rules to Enhance Your Practice," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (April 2022)
• "Jury Verdict All-Stars," Kentucky Justice Association, Invited Speaker, Seminar Program Chair, and Moderator (June 2020)
• "Auto and General Personal Injury: Do What You Do, Only Do It Better," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (June 2020)
• "Floyd v. Neal: Six Steps to Successful Preservation," Kentucky Justice Association, The Advocate (May/June 2020)
• "Appellate Practice Nuts and Bolts," Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, Basic Legal Skills Class, Invited Speaker (February 2020)
• "Hot Topics in Civil Justice," Kentucky Justice Association, Annual Convention, Judges' Seminar, Invited Speaker (September 2019)
• "Appellate Practice: The Dirty Dozen," The Louisville Group Annual Las Vegas Seminar, Invited Speaker (June 2019)
• "Kentucky's New Certificate of Merit Law," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (May 2019)
• "Appellate Practice for Legal Aid Practitioners," Legal Aid Society of Louisville, Invited Speaker (April 2019)
• "Introduction to Appellate Practice," Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, Basic Legal Skills Class, Invited Speaker (February 2019)
• "Issues and Trends in State Law Immunity," Kentucky Justice Association, Annual Convention, Judges' Seminar, Invited Speaker (September 2018)
• "ABC's of Appellate Practice," The Louisville Group Annual Las Vegas Seminar, Invited Speaker (June 2018)
• "Personal Injury," The Louisville Group Annual Las Vegas Seminar, Invited Speaker (June 2018)
• "Introduction to Appellate Practice," Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, Basic Legal Skills Class, Invited Speaker (February 2018)
• "History of the Collateral Source Rule," National Association of Trial Lawyer Executives, Annual Leah S. Guerry Governmental Affairs Conference, Invited Speaker (November 2017)
• "History of the Kentucky Constitution," Kentucky Justice Association, Annual Convention, Judges' Seminar, Invited Speaker (September 2017)
• "Making the Case for Loss of Parental Consortium in Non-Death Cases," Kentucky Justice Association, The Advocate (November/December 2016)
• "Arbitration in Kentucky: Past, Present, and Future," Kentucky Justice Association, Annual Convention, Judges' Seminar, Invited Speaker (September 2016)
• "How to Win at the End: Kentucky Appellate Practice," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (June 2016)
• "Ex Parte Communications, Practical Considerations," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (November 2015)
• "Nursing Home Arbitration Case Law Update," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (April 2015)
• "Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005," SeminarWeb and Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (March 2014)
• "Immunity Challenge: Is Your Case a Survivor?" Kentucky Justice Association, Annual Convention, Invited Speaker (September 2013)
• "Shedding Light on Peer Review Privilege," American Association for Justice, Trial Magazine (June 2013)
• "Kentucky Appellate Practice," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (June 2012)
• "Release and Indemnity," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (March 2012)
• "Please Sign Here, Here, Here, and Here…," Kentucky Justice Association, The Advocate (January/February 2012)
• "Loss of Consortium," Kentucky Bar Association, Annual Convention, Invited Speaker (June 2010)
• "Loss of Consortium," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (April 2010)
• "Martin v. Ohio County Hospital Corporation and Loss of Consortium," Kentucky Justice Association, Seminar, Invited Speaker (November 2009)
• "Cases for the New Lawyer: Choose Wisely or Perish," Louisville Bar Association, Bar Briefs (December 2000)
• "Old Chief v. United States: U.S. Supreme Court Limits Admissibility of Criminal Defendants’ Prior Convictions," Louisville Bar Association, Bar Briefs (June 1997)

EDUCATION

• University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, Juris Doctorate (1997)
• University of Kentucky, Bachelor of Arts with Distinction (1994)

PAST EMPLOYMENT

• Founding Member/Owner, Burke Neal PLLC (2016-present)
• Attorney/Owner, Kevin C. Burke Law Office (1999-2015)
• Attorney, Frank E. Haddad, Jr. Law Offices (1998-1999)
• Law Clerk, Frank E. Haddad, Jr. Law Offices (1995-1997)

COURT ADMISSIONS:

• Supreme Court of the United States (2008)
• United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2001)
• Kentucky State and Federal District Courts (1998)