Jay Rayes

Jay Reyes founded Riverside Law Group in 2006 with the express purpose of helping individuals and entities navigate the complicated world of law, government, and business.

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Jay began his career in private practice, serving as a Summer Associate focused on property related legal support to a Fortune 50 company. He then worked for a specialized real property firm in DuPage County, representing various municipalities, school districts, and other local government entities in complex real property matters including land acquisition, zoning, condemnation, eminent domain, and related proceedings.

 

At Riverside Law Group, Jay continued to practice complex property law and added construction and related contractor functions, focusing primarily on complex real property, local government, land use, public policy, and community outreach initiatives. He was later recruited into government service.

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Jay had the distinction to serve as Legal Counsel to former Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, advising the Constitutional Officer on various legal and policy matters including Local Government regulations, Legal Compliance, Investigations, Government Audits, Community Outreach, and Legislative initiatives.  In addition, he served as the chief state regulator over Tax Increment Finance (“TIF”) districts and liaised with local and federal authorities on a host of legal matters throughout the state.  

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Jay continued his career as a Government Regulator as the chief legal officer for the Division of Real Estate at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.  As Deputy General Counsel, he managed the State of Illinois’ regulatory actions over various licensed professions such as the licensing and discipline of nearly 100,000 real estate related licensees including the real estate, appraisal, and condominium manager professions throughout Illinois.  Jay oversaw all administrative hearing actions and legal administrative review cases pending at the circuit and appellate court levels throughout Illinois.  

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In addition to his responsibilities in license administration and discipline, Jay managed the Division’s extensive Legislative and Administrative Rule initiatives. Partnering with the Department’s legislative team, Jay testified before the Illinois House and Senate, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, and guided many initiatives from drafting to passage, in cooperation with industry associations, registered lobbyists, and political action committees.  He has successfully moved dozens of legislative and administrative rule initiatives to completion.

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Jay later joined the Illinois Lieutenant Governor’s team as General Counsel, where he managed various high profile statewide regulatory initiatives focused on, among other matters, Medicare, 5G, transportation, invasive species, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and telehealth. He also represented the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's interests before various state and federal government agencies, professional associations, and political groups. Prior to practicing as an attorney, Jay served as a Policy Analyst for the Illinois House of Representatives. Jay researched, recommended, and developed legislation to address critical issues affecting Illinois, particularly Cook County’s west suburban area.  

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Jay maintains extensive ties to both Chicagoland’s business, civic, government, political, and legal community.  He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Triton College in River Grove, Illinois.  He is also a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a Catholic service organization, and regularly volunteers to promote Catholic causes.  Jay holds various professional memberships including membership on the Board of the Catholic Lawyers Guild.  

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Jay is a graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Illinois’ top public policy school, the University of Illinois at Springfield, located in the Illinois state capital.  He currently sits on the University of Illinois at Springfield Alumni Board.

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Jay received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the now University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law, formerly The John Marshall Law School, where he served as Staff Editor on the Journal of Computer and Information Technology Law.  In addition, he completed extensive LLM coursework in International Business and Trade Law at John Marshall and through The College of William and Mary Law School.

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Now back in private practice, Jay concentrates his legal practice advising businesses on local, state, and federal government regulatory matters, administrative hearings, and general practice law.

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Jay is fluent in both English and Spanish.