Just remembering from the instructions on the last lamiate floor I layed, but:
a) you need an adequate expansion gap under the sills all the way around (but if you get the panels really wet my guess is that all bets are off)
b) you need to use glue between the panels if there is any chance of the floor getting wet - I would say in a kitchen you would definitely need to - this should save you from surface splashing, but if you leak a load of water down and underneath the floor the wet is going to get in anyway
c) you also need to ensure you have dampproof underneath the floor to prevent damp coming up from underneath.
I would say that it was a bit risky putting normal laminate in a kitchen anyway - you can vinyl flooring which is a pretty convincing substitute, at least to my poor eyesight.
Apparently now you can get a fully waterproof laminate floor, which I would recommend if you are determined to use it in the kitchen - probably a bit more expensive though.
Doylie
December 2007