Jonathan P. Brown

Jonathan P. Brown

South Dakota Business Lawyer

My Story

Sioux Falls lawyer Jonathan P. Brown has been with Davenport Evans since 1986, and his practice is focused on commercial transactions. Jon assists clients in the negotiation of contracts for the sale of their businesses and in the acquisition of new businesses. Jon also assists clients in setting up corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships, and is involved in general contract preparation and review, as well as business planning for firm clients.

Jon also handles a wide variety of real estate projects including development work, commercial leasing, commercial lending, condominium work, environmental compliance, and 1031 exchanges.  Jon assists clients with the negotiation and review of loan documents for out of state loan transactions and the provision of local counsel opinions in connection with such loans.  Firm clients that Jon serves include real estate developers, lenders, manufacturers, retailers, service providers, energy companies, ethanol plants, franchisees, school districts, and family businesses.

Jon currently serves as head of the firm’s Business Practice Group. Jon has received an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, for the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. Jon was named Best Lawyers® 2016 Corporate Law “Lawyer of the Year” for Sioux Falls, SD. He has been selected by Best Lawyers® in the areas of Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, and Real Estate Law; and was named to the 2022 Best Lawyers® Real Estate and Infrastructure Edition in the area of Real Estate Law. He has also been ranked by Chambers and Partners in the areas of Corporate/Commercial and Real Estate law, and ranked in the top 5% of practicing attorneys in South Dakota by Great Plains Super Lawyers in the areas of Business/Corporate, Real Estate, and Environmental law.

Position: Partner
Direct: (605) 357-1271
Email: jbrown@dehs.com

Jon Brown Super Lawyers

Professional Experience

Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP
Partner: 1990 – present
Associate: 1986 – 1989

Education

Iowa State University 
(B.S., with distinction, 1982) 

University of Iowa 
(J.D., with distinction, 1986) 

Phi Kappa Phi

Professional Memberships

State Bar of South Dakota
Iowa State Bar Association
Minnehaha County Bar Association

Licensure

Admitted to Practice (State): 
South Dakota, 1986 

Admitted to Practice (Federal): 
United States District Court, District of South Dakota, 1989

Accomplishments

Associate Editor, Iowa Law Review, 1985 – 1986

Author: Banzhaf v. Smith, Judicial Review Under the Independent Counsel Provision of the Ethics in Government Act, Vol. 70:5, Iowa Law Review

Protecting what you’ve built.

Phone Numbers

Driving Directions

Davenport Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP

206 West 14th Street
P.O. Box 1030
Sioux Falls, SD 57101-1030