Biography
Gregory Cokinos is a founder of Cokinos | Young, and he has earned a reputation as one of the preeminent lawyers in his field. Gregory’s practice includes all aspects (trial, dispute, and contract negotiations) of industrial and commercial construction, including pipelines, power plants, processing plants, refineries, highway construction, offshore production and drilling platforms, office buildings, high-rise condominiums, and schools. Gregory also has extensive experience in real estate transactions and development, having represented owners, developers, landlords, and tenants in all areas of commercial real estate acquisition, financing, development, leasing, and sale. His project involvement includes central business district office buildings, health care facilities, shopping centers, housing developments, and apartments.
Although his practice is concentrated in the area of construction and real estate development issues, Gregory has handled a wide range of litigation matters as well as contract negotiations, including significant cases in securities fraud, patent infringement, employment, banking, franchise agreements, and oil and gas. Gregory has also handled serious personal injury cases, including brain damage, permanent paralysis, and death.
Gregory devotes considerable time to advancing the industry. After serving as editor of the State Bar Construction Law Section Newsletter, he was instrumental in creating and organizing the Construction Law Journal, a joint publication by the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and the South Texas College of Law. He became the journal’s first editor, a position he held for nearly two decades until 2019. Gregory is a member of the American College of Construction Lawyers and was the first lawyer from Houston inducted into this prestigious organization. Gregory is also an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, on both the commercial and construction panels, and for the International Center for Dispute Resolution. Gregory is also a Department of Construction Science Lecturer in the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University, teaching COSC 465 – Advanced Topics in Construction Law since 2019.
Education
- South Texas College of Law – J.D., 1982
- Texas A&M University – B.B.A., 1979
Recognitions & Distinctions
- Chambers USA: “Star Individual” Ranked Lawyer in Texas Construction Law (2003–2025)
- Texas State Bar Construction Law Section Chair (2022–2023); Chair-Elect (2021–2022)
- Named by Thomson Reuters as one of The Top 100 Super Lawyers in the State of Texas every year since 2007
- Recognized by Best Lawyers® as the “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law in Houston in 2013 and 2018
- Named a Texas Super Lawyer in Construction Litigation by Thomson Reuters (2005–2025)
Fewer than 5% of attorneys in the state are selected annually
- AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings, the highest rating possible
- American College of Construction Lawyers, first Houston attorney selected and inducted into the prestigious, invitation-only association of the top 1% of construction lawyers in North America
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Law, Commercial Litigation & Construction Litigation, Corporate Law, and Litigation – Construction (2005–present)
- Distinguished Alumni of Texas A&M (2022)
- Texas A&M Mays Business School Distinguished Alumni (2017)
Memberships & Affiliations
- American Arbitration Association: Panelist on Construction and Commercial Panels
- American Bar Association: Litigation, Construction Law, Business Law, Real Estate, Oil and Gas
- College of the State Bar of Texas
- Litigation Council of America Fellow
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Life Member
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Life Member
- State Bar of Texas: Litigation, Business Law, Real Estate, Entertainment and Sports Law
- Construction Law Section Newsletter: Editor (1997–2003)
- Construction Law Journal: Editor (2003–2020)
- Appointed as a member of the Construction Law Exam Inaugural Commission (2016), charged with drafting the board certification exam for construction law, and grading the exam for the Texas Bar of Legal Specialization
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- Texas Aggie Bar Association
- Association of General Contractors of America
- Associated Builders and Contractors of Houston
- Houston Contractors Association
- Houston Bar Association: Litigation, Construction Law, Business Law, Real Estate, Oil and Gas
- Houston Young Lawyers Association: Former Council Member
- District 4D Grievance Committee, Panel Chair
- Chair of 12th Man Foundation
- Board Member of the Association of Former Students (2012–2017)
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States District Courts: Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
- United States Supreme Court
Community Involvement
- Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Expansion, Construction Subcommittee Chair (1992–1995)
- Chair of $17.0mm Cathedral expansion of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (2016–present)
- Served on the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Parish Council (1986–1992; 2011–2017)