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Complex Commercial litigation
Fiduciary litigation
Catastrophic injury litigation
White collar criminal defense
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Chris Cohilas specializes in complex civil litigation and white collar criminal defense. Chris’s civil practice focuses on cases involving business torts, breach of fiduciary duty, commercial disputes, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, trade secrets, catastrophic injuries, and civil RICO. Chris routinely represents trustees, executors, product manufacturers, agribusinesses and other businesses and individuals.
Chris also maintains an active criminal defense practice with a focus on defending businesses and individuals involved in white collar crime investigations or litigation. Prior to coming to Watson Spence, Chris served as the Chief Assistant District Attorney for Dougherty County. As the Chief Assistant District Attorney, he was responsible for the prosecution of felony crimes against children, violations of the Georgia RICO act, serious violent felonies, and cases involving extended or complex litigation. During his time in public service, he tried all manner of cases ranging from murder to public corruption. As such, he brings an insider’s perspective to his representation of businesses and, or individuals being investigated or charged with allegations of violations of State or Federal criminal statutes.
Chris is a consummate litigator with the experience to back it up. He has tried over 40 jury trials to verdict including both civil and criminal trials. Additionally, he has argued multiple cases in the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court.
Chris is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and is admitted to practice in all State and Superior Courts of Georgia as well as the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Georgia Supreme Court, and Federal Court for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia. He serves on the State Bar of Georgia’s Unauthorized Practice of Law Standing Committee. Locally, he has previously served as the Chairperson of the Dougherty County Multi-Disciplinary Team Against Child Abuse and as the Chairperson of the Dougherty County Child Fatality Review Panel.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Georgia in 1999, Chris went on to receive his J.D. degree from Georgia State Law School in 2002. While in law school, he was named “Best Advocate” and was the winner of the William Daniel National Mock Trial Competition scholarship. Additionally, he participated on the International Moot Court Team and was named a “Top-Ten Oralist” at the 2002 Jessup International Moot Court Competition at Duke University. While at Georgia State Law School, he was a member of the Student Trial Lawyers’ Association, the International Comparative Law society, and served as a Student Governmental Association Senator.
Locally, Chris has immersed himself within the community by becoming involved in many local organizations and charities. He serves as Trustee for the Darton College Foundation and is the former president and chairperson for the Artesian City Sertoma Club. He is further known for his work as the former co-chairperson of the Martin Luther King Day Celebration Committee and as one of the founding members of the Lily Pad SANE Center.
In January 2013, Chris was awarded the Martin Luther King Day “Dream Award” for his community involvement. In 2007, he was named one of Southwest Georgia’s 40 under 40, and, in 2006, he was recognized by the State Bar of Georgia when he was given the Young Lawyers Ethics and Professionalism Award. Chris, along with his wife Karen, is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Georgia and served as a Program Chair for the organization in 2009.
Chris is married to Karen Cohilas. They, along with their sons Christopher Jr., Nicholas and Michael attend and are members of Porterfield Methodist Church. |
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Joseph W. Dent
