In December 2008 he took over the defense of the policeman who fatally shot 15 year old Alexis Grigoropoulos.
As of 2024, Kougias has been involved in some of Greece’s most controversial cases to date, facing mass criticism by the Greek Media.
Alongside with his career in law, he has been heavily involved in sports ownership and administration.
He has served as president of Korinthos, Aris Petroupolis, Veria, PAS Giannina, Lamia and Panahaiki.
By the late 2000s, Kougias was a major stakeholder at Larissa-based football club AEL.