About J. Steven
J. Steven Ayres built his professional foundation in Illinois. He earned an A.S. in Business Finance from IECC - Lincoln Trail College in 1999. He completed a B.S. in Business Administration at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2001 and graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2003.
His early years in the legal field were spent in support roles that gave him a close view of courtroom practice and office management. While still completing his education he worked as a legal clerk at Cox, Phillips, Weber, Tedford & Heap, P.C. in 1998. After law school he returned to practice-level work, serving as a clerk and legal assistant at the John T. Phipps Law Office in 2004 and at Lemna, Moore & Carroll in 2005. Those positions preceded his move into firm-side litigation work.
Ayres joined Cox, Phillips, Weber, Tedford & Heap, P.C. as an associate in 2006. A year later he became a partner at Weber, Heap, Ayres & Greene, P.C. The quick transition from associate to partner reflects a steady path through a small-firm environment where attorneys often assume broad responsibilities early in their careers.
He is admitted to practice in Illinois and in the Federal Circuit. That admission profile means his work crosses state and federal boundaries and includes matters filed on both levels. His courtroom and appellate exposure stems from the roles he has held since the mid-2000s and from the firm practice structure that handles a range of disputes and filings.
Outside the office, Ayres has maintained steady involvement in professional and civic circles. He has been a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Crawford County Bar Association since 2006. He also joined local civic organizations that year, including the Robinson Fraternal Order of Elks Lodge No. 1188 and the Robinson Kiwanis Club. Since 2006 he has served as Vice-President of CrossTies Christian Ministries, and he spent four years on the Board of Directors of the Palestine Academic Foundation from 2010 to 2014.
Colleagues and clients see him as the sort of lawyer whose career was built through hands-on work in a regional firm. He continues to practice at Weber, Heap, Ayres & Greene, P.C., handling matters in Illinois and matters brought before the Federal Circuit.
