Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
GELLERSTEDT LAWRENCE L III
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COUSINS PROPERTIES INC [CUZ] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
President & CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
191 PEACHTREE STREET, SUITE 500		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/16/2012
(Street)

ATLANTA, GA 30303		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 02/16/2012   M(2)   3,729 A $ 7.4 413,897 (3) D  
Common Stock 02/16/2012   D   3,729 D $ 7.4 410,168 (3) D  
Common Stock               1,665 I By Profit Sharing Plan
Common Stock               50 I By Spouse
Common Stock               500 I By Irrevocable Trust
Common Stock               1,000 I By Irrevocable Trust

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock (1) 02/16/2012   M(2)     3,729 02/16/2010 02/16/2013 Common Stock 3,729 $ 0 3,730 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
GELLERSTEDT LAWRENCE L III
191 PEACHTREE STREET
SUITE 500
ATLANTA, GA 30303		       President & CEO  

Signatures

 /s/ Lawrence L. Gellerstedt III   02/21/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Award of restricted stock units under Cousins Properties Incorporated (CPI) 2005 Restricted Stock Unit Plan. Each unit represents a right to receive a payment in cash equal to the average of the closing price of CPI's common stock on each trading day during the 30 day period ending on the date payment is due under the plan. These units will vest 25% per year on each anniversary date of the grant, with units being 100% vested in year 4 of the grant term. Unforfeited shares held prior to vesting will earn dividends paid annually but will not have shareholder rights. All unvested shares will forfeit upon termination of employment.
(2) Restricted stock units were granted under the Cousins Properties Incorporated 2005 Restricted Stock Unit Plan (the 2005 RSU Plan) and have vested as to 25% of the total units granted. As required under the 2005 RSU Plan, the vested units were settled for cash from CPI. Each restricted stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of CPI common stock.
(3) Includes 318,290 restricted stock awarded under the Cousins Properties Incorporated (CPI) 1999 and 2009 Incentive Stock Plans. While the shares are being held prior to vesting, the reporting person will have the right to receive all cash dividends and to vote the restricted shares. All unvested shares will forfeit upon termination of employment.

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