Attorney Profile
Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Steve Buck was sure of two things: he would come to be a life-long Cardinals fan and would make a career in law. “My dad was a police officer. When he heard I was interested in law enforcement, he didn’t discourage me from following his career path, but rather encouraged me to do something beyond what he had done. So instead of law enforcement, I chose the practice of law.”
As Steve finished his law degree at St. Louis University in 1992, he considered employment offers from the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Office, and a business litigation practice in Peoria. The lure of the courtroom and the opportunities in a small city of Peoria’s size appealed to Steve, and so he chose the latter, moved with his wife to Peoria, and has been litigating business disputes ever since.
With 20+ years of experience, Steve routinely represents companies facing business-critical disputes. Not all of the shareholder disputes, foreclosure actions, fraud claims, breach of contracts matters, warranty issues or employment disputes Steve handles end up in court. Depending upon a client’s circumstances, negotiation rather than litigation may be the best course. But, when the need arises, Steve has been an aggressive and convincing advocate in the courtroom. Recent highlights include:
- Obtaining summary judgment for an advertising client which invalidated a municipal ordinance seeking to remove the client’s signs without payment of proper compensation.
- Obtaining a defense verdict in favor of a corporate client and its chief financial officer following trial on claims of fraud surrounding the redemption of company stock.
- Successfully trying and resolving multiple claims of shareholder oppression, breach of employment contract, breach of shareholder agreement and breaches of fiduciary duty brought against a telecommunications company by former shareholders and directors.
- Defending three separate lawsuits brought against a pharmaceutical manufacturer by individuals claiming adverse health effects, including permanent injuries, relating to medication compounded by the pharmacy, and obtaining a favorable result for the pharmacy client in all three matters.
When not otherwise involved with employment law matters, OSHA investigations, a set of construction contracts, or the concerns of local municipalities and their collective bargaining agreements, you’ll find Steve rooting for his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.
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Practice Areas
Education
- J.D., St. Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri, 1992
- Honors: magna cum laude, Order of the Woolsack
- Law Review: St. Louis University Public Law Review, staff
- B.A., Criminal Justice, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1989
- Honors: magna cum laude
Admissions/Associations
- Illinois
- Missouri
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U. S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- American Inn of Court
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Peoria County Bar Association
Ratings/Recognitions
- Illinois Leading Lawyers list, 2009-2025
- Illinois Super Lawyers list, 2007
Community Activities
- Peoria Public Library Board of Trustees, Secretary (2012 – present)
- Greater Peoria Area CrimeStoppers, Board of Directors, Past President (1996-2008)
Presentations
- Employment Law Update – Quinn Johnston Labor & Employment Seminar, 2016 – 2019
- Navigating the Americans with Disabilities Act: Who is Qualified Under the ADA and What Exactly is a Reasonable Accommodation? – Quinn Johnston Labor & Employment Seminar, 2018
- Challenges to Businesses in a #MeToo World – Quinn Johnston Business & Tax Seminar, 2018
- Handling Workplace Investigations – Quinn Johnston Labor & Employment Seminar, 2015
- Guns and Drugs at Work: The Impact on Employers of the Legalization of Concealed Carry and Medical Marijuana – Quinn Johnston Labor & Employment Seminar, 2014