Practice Emphasis

Commercial/complex litigation, construction law, contract negotiations, real estate, oil and gas, and serious personal injury related issues.

Professional Summary

For twenty-four years, Gregory Cokinos has concentrated his practice in litigation. He has been involved in a wide range of litigation matters as well as contract negotiations, handling significant cases in virtually every area of commercial law, including complex and multiparty construction disputes, securities fraud, real estate, patent infringement, employment, banking, franchise agreements and oil and gas. Gregory also handles serious personal injury cases, including brain damage, permanent paralysis and death. 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.

A founder of Cokinos, Bosien & Young, Gregory's commercial practice concentrates in the area of construction and real estate law, developing a reputation as one of the area's preeminent lawyers. Gregory's experience includes all aspects of commercial and industrial construction, including office buildings, high rise condominiums, power plants, processing plants, refineries, pipelines, highway construction, as well as offshore production and drilling platforms. He also has experience with all aspects of residential construction. After serving as editor of the State Bar Construction Law Section Newletter, he was instrumental in creating and organizing the Construction Law Journal, a joint publication by the Construction Law Section of the Texas State Bar and The South Texas College of Law, he became its first editor, a position he still holds. Gregory is a member of the American College of Construction Lawyers. He was named as one of The Top 100 Super Lawyers in the State of Texas by Texas Monthly in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Gregory is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings, the highest rating possible.

Gregory is a member of the American College of Construction Lawyers and was the first lawyer from the City of Houston inducted into this prestigious organization.

Gregory is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, on both the commercial and construction panels, and for the International Center for Dispute Resolution. He is also on the American Arbitration Association's Grievance Committee Panel for USA Track and Field.

SPEAKER:

"The Dirty Dozen: Twelve Things You Should Know Regarding Construction Law," Houston Bar Association CLE seminar, Houston, Texas (2009)

"Short Course on International Energy Law, Contracts and Negotiations," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Houston, Texas (2006 - 2009)

"AIA Contracts in Texas," Lorman Education Services (2004)

"Terminating a Subcontractor: Pitfalls and Pratfalls," 16th Annual Construction Law Conference, Dallas, Texas (2003)

"The Texas 'Economic Loss' Rule and 'Contorts,' Separating Tort from Contract," Defense Research Institute, Construction Law Seminar, San Antonio, Texas (1998)

"Foremost Legal Issues Facing Contractors," American Concrete Institute, Spring Convention, Houston, Texas (1998)

"The 'Contorted Contract' and Use of the Texas 'Economic Loss' Rule to Dis-Tort the Con-Tort," 10th Annual Construction Law Conference, Austin, Texas (1997)

"Liability Issues Regarding Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Energy," American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (1996-97)

"Builder Risk Insurance," 6th Annual Construction Law Conference, Austin, Texas (1993)

Education
Texas A&M University (B.B.A., 1979)
South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1982)

Bar Admissions
State Bar of Texas (1982)
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
United States District Court:

Eastern District of Texas
Northern District of Texas
Southern District of Texas
Western District of Texas

United States Supreme Court

Memberships & Affiliations
American Arbitration Association:
- Panelist on the Construction and Commercial Panels

American Bar Association:
     - Litigation Section
     - Construction Law Section
     - Business Law Section
     - Real Estate Section
     - Oil and Gas Section

American College of Construction Lawyers
American Association for Justice
Association of General Contractors of America
College of the State Bar of Texas
State Bar of Texas:
     - Litigation Section
     - Construction Law Section Editor: Editor, Construction Law Newsletter (1997-2003), Editor,
       Construction Law Journal (2003-Present)
     - Business Law Section
     - Real Estate Section
     - Entertainment and Sports Law Section
     - District 4D Grievance Committee, Panel Chair

Texas Aggie Bar Assocation
Texas Bar Foundation
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Associated Builders and Contractors of Houston
Houston Bar Association:
     - Litigation Section
     - Construction Law Section
     - Business Law Section
     - Real Estate Section
     - Oil and Gas Section(Council Member 1991) (Director Nominating Committee 1989)

Houston Young Lawyers Association:
- Former Council Member

Gregory M. Cokinos

Principal

Houston, Texas
(713) 535-5510 (Direct)
(713) 535-5533 (Fax)
gmcokinos@cbylaw.com

Publications