Decorated U.S. Army Reservist Named a Champion for Fellow Veterans
11.20.2023
The New York State Bar Association honored Anthony Kuhn, managing partner of Tully Rinckey’s Buffalo and Syracuse offices, with the Veteran Advocate of the Year Award. The award recognizes outstanding service on behalf of veterans and active-duty service members.
Kuhn is a decorated combat veteran and chair of the firm’s Military and National Security practice groups. His practice focuses on helping disabled veterans secure compensation and providing access to health care for all veterans. He is the co-founder of the Veterans Law Practicum at the University at Buffalo School of Law, which provides free legal assistance for veterans.
“Anthony Kuhn is a gifted lawyer with a deep commitment to the military and veteran community. He has an impressive track record of diverting veterans to veterans’ treatment courts and securing compensation for disabled veterans appealing Veterans Administration claims,” said New York State Bar Association President Richard Lewis. “His continued service as a reservist and a veteran advocate is an example for all of us to follow.”
Kuhn is the founder of the annual Veterans in Economic Transition Conference. It’s a two-day free conference helping veteran-owned businesses grow and prosper and teaching veterans how to start their own businesses. Each holiday season, Kuhn coordinates “Turkeys for Vets” and “Adopt a Hero,” which provide food and gifts to veterans in need. Kuhn has raised more than $1 million each year to help veterans and their families.
In accepting the award from the bar association’s Committee on Veterans, Kuhn turned the attention away from himself to focus on his team at Tully Rinckey. “I appreciate you considering me for the award, but I have not done it on my own,” he said. “I come to work with veterans who work on behalf of service members. I consider it a blessing to be able to do that every day.”
The award is named for Judge Robert T. Russell who founded the Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court in 2008. This week, Judge Russell presented the award to Kuhn at the beginning of a continuing legal education class on veterans’ health care issues. He praised Kuhn for his decorated service on and off the battlefield.
“What a blessing to give of yourself in service to our country,” he said. “You are willing to help those who served to make them healthier, and to ensure that they get the benefits to which they are entitled.“
