Oct. 17, 2023

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Pedro Assis, an associate attorney at Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith.

Name: Pedro Assis, full name Pedro Luis Negrão de Assis

Age: 31

Hometown: Guaxupé, Minas Gerais, Brazil

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

Love! During my undergraduate program in science and technology, I obtained a scholarship to study in Ireland. I met the love of my life there, and she is from Sioux Falls. After three years dating, we decided it was time to marry. So I moved to Sioux Falls in 2016.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

In addition to family and friends, I am still in Sioux Falls because the community is exhilarating. Sioux Falls combines the advantages of small cities and the opportunities of big cities. Since I moved here, I observed the city grow exponentially. I am looking forward to seeing what Sioux Falls will look like in the future.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

My favorite thing about my job is that I work with a great team. By being surrounded by intelligent people, I am constantly challenged. If there is something that I struggle with, I can always rely on my teammates. The result of the best teamwork is the best advocacy for our clients. Also, there is great coffee here!

How did you get connected to your industry?

I got connected with the legal field because my wife and father-in-law are lawyers. While I researched stem cells and rare pediatric genetic diseases, I watched my wife go through law school. As soon as she graduated, it was my time to pursue more education. So I joined USD, which was my wife’s and father-in-law’s alma mater.

Describe your workplace in three words.

Professional, collaborative, ethical.

What is something someone might be surprised to learn about you?

I am colorblind.

What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?

I believe the best way an attorney can give back to the community is by providing effective advocacy. It ensures that people have access to the justice system, rights are protected and social change becomes possible. Ultimately, effective advocacy is a powerful tool to empower the individuals and organizations in our community.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

I would love if Sioux Falls had a Brazilian bakery, the famous “padaria.” If you don’t know what I am talking about, search online for photos of brigadeiro cake, pão de queijo or guava cookies. You can thank me later.

If you had $1 million to start a business, what kind of business would it be?

I would start a video game developer or publisher. The video game industry is booming and expected to grow even more. I have loved video games since I was 5 years old. In fact, I learned English thanks to video games. In the late 1990s, I played every game with a dictionary by my side so that I could understand what was going on. I know that South Dakota has great talents in the field thanks to programs such as the ones at the Dakota State University. Yet those professionals end up leaving or working in other areas because there is still no market here. If I had the opportunity to, I would like to change that.