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 the advancement of 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 first editor of the journal, a position he held for close to 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 with the College of Architecture, 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: Ranked Lawyer in Texas Construction Law (2003 – 2024); Chambers USA “Star Individual”
- 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
- Named 2018 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers
- Named Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters every year since 2005. Each year, no more than 5 percent of lawyers in the state are selected to receive this honor
- 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
- Best Lawyers in America (2005 – Present): Construction Law, Commercial Litigation & Construction Litigation
- 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)
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)
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States District Court: Northern, Eastern, Southern, & Western Districts of Texas
- United States Supreme Court