Biography
Christopher C. Wan is a Principal in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. His practice focuses primarily on resolving complex commercial and industrial construction disputes through litigation and arbitration. Chris’s experience covers a variety of disputes involving refineries, chemical plants, pipelines, water treatment plants, high-rise condominiums, and university buildings, among other commercial and industrial projects. Chris graduated from the South Texas College of Law, where he served as the Texas State Bar- Construction Law Journal Student Editor. Prior to his legal career, Chris was an engineer specializing in highway design, with notable projects including State Highway 45 and State Highway 130 in Austin, Texas. Further, he worked alongside developers and contractors to assist with the design and planning phase of the tollways. Chris is fluent in Cantonese.
Education
- South Texas College of Law – J.D., 2013
- University of Texas at Austin – B.S. Civil Engineering, 2005
Recognitions & Distinctions
- Best Lawyers in America 2025: Commercial Litigation
- Named Super Lawyer in Construction Litigation by Thomason Reuters (2025)
- Named a Rising Star in Construction Litigation by Thomson Reuters from (2018 – 2023)
- Lecturer, Construction Contracts & Claims, Collaborative Global Construction Engineering Advanced Training Program, Texas A&M University with Chungbuk National University (Republic of Korea), College Station, Texas, 2018 & 2019
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Texas’ Best Lawyers® – Ones to Watch (2021 – 2022): Commercial Litigation, Construction Law & Construction Litigation 2021
Representative Experience
- Obtained a favorable defense verdict after a two-week bench trial for a mid-stream energy company over multiple competing claims for breach of contract (including contractor’s allegations of fraud and negligent misrepresentations) related to the construction of a 713-mile pipeline in Ohio.
- Obtained a favorable settlement for an energy company against a contractor’s claims for additional compensation involving the construction of a crude oil terminal in Texas.
- Obtained a favorable settlement for a mid-stream energy company over competing claims for breach of contract (which also involved a dispute of the enforceability of a forum-selection clause within the construction contract) related to the construction of compressor stations in West Virginia and Ohio.
- Obtained a favorable defense verdict after a two-week arbitration for architecture firm defending against claims for breach of contract and breach of an architect’s standard of care involving a mixed-use commercial and residential high-rise in Houston, Texas.
- Obtained a favorable jury verdict for industrial contractor after a three-week trial over multiple competing claims for breach of contract (including owner’s allegations of termination for default, defective work, and delay) related to the construction of a chemical facility in Geismar, Louisiana.
- Obtained favorable settlement for a TIRZ against a general contractor’s claim for move-around costs resulting from alleged defective plans and specifications.
- Obtained favorable settlement for industrial contractor seeking damages related to owner-directed changes, owner-caused delays, and misrepresentations made before and during the construction of a petrochemical pipeline.
- Obtained favorable settlement for a real estate developer asserting delay damages and defective work with the construction of two 27-story condominium towers.
- Represented an international infrastructure contractor in disputes related to public and private procurement and construction.
- Obtained a favorable defense arbitration award after a four-day arbitration hearing on behalf of a heavy-civil-highway contractor in connection with a joint venture dispute and construction delays at a Texas tollway project.
- Obtained a dispositive ruling on behalf of energy company against a general contractor and subcontractor’s claim for changed conditions in connection with dredging work near the Houston Ship Channel.
- Obtained a multi-million arbitration award on behalf of owner against general contractor after a five-day arbitration hearing related to significant construction defects throughout the project.
- Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of a general contractor against an owner’s allegation of construction defects (that owner claimed was “systemic”) at a multi-unit senior living facility.
Publications
- Author, Construction Laws and Customs: Texas, Practical Law – Thomson Reuters
Memberships & Affiliations
- State Bar of Texas: Construction Law
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- United States District Court: Southern & Western Districts of Texas