Recognizing that divorce is a difficult time and often involves the division of an estate, Thomas P. Goranson applies a keen understanding of marital assets and how they can be valued and divided to achieve maximum benefit to the client. His attention to detail in cases that require complex property division and valuation of closely held businesses has helped hundreds of clients better understand the value of their property and assets. Befitting the founder of the firm, Tom also brings a certain stature to his cases that supports each client’s goals in their proceedings.
With an eye toward preserving assets rather than destroying them, Tom offers clients a thorough analysis and a creative but realistic plan to accomplish their objectives. In some cases, he is able to accomplish this proactively by sitting down with clients to create pre- and post-marital agreements. But if divorce is already on the horizon, he is able to listen to each client’s unique needs and walk them through the process step by step so that they feel comfortable and confident.
Tom began his law practice in 1971 as an associate with the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld. Early on, he was assigned an estate case and quickly became familiar with community and separate property concepts, cases, and laws in Texas. Then, Tom assisted in a divorce case involving a jury trial. In a rather short period of time, Tom was placed in charge of the divorce practice at Akin, Gump. In 1987, he founded a law firm devoted exclusively to divorce and family law, known today as Goranson Bain Ausley.
Tom’s current divorce practice focuses on high-net-worth divorce cases involving significant property. He is a graduate of SMU School of Law (1971), and a frequent lecturer on family law matters. He is also a member of two separate American Inns of Court. The William “Mac” Taylor Inn is a general litigation organization, while membership in the Annette Stewart Inn is limited to family law attorneys. Tom was a founding member of the Annette Stewart Inn and was education vice president from 2003 to 2004. Inns of Court were established in the United States for the purpose of fostering excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal skills. He has also been a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 1982. Tom has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© by Woodward/White Inc. for more than 20 years. Tom was one of the founding members of, and is currently an active member of, a local Toastmasters International Club, Counselors (#5918). He is especially proud of establishing a law firm that has developed a great reputation among judges, mediators, other professionals, and clients.
Tom is a founding partner at Goranson Bain Ausley and a premier Dallas divorce lawyer working out of our Dallas and Plano office locations.
Honors & Awards
Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law, Best Lawyers, 1987 – 2021, 2024 – 2026
Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Best Lawyers, 2026
Named to the 500 Leading Family Lawyers List, LawDragon, 2024 – 2026
Selected to the “Top Lawyers: Family Law”, D Magazine, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007 – 2009
Selected to the “Best Personal Lawyers in Dallas; Family Law”, D Magazine, 2011
Selected to the “Best Lawyers in Dallas: Family Law”, D Magazine, 2008
Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2025
Selected to the “Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2004- 2005
Selected to the “Top 100: Dallas/Fort Worth Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2005
“AV” Preeminent® rating, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
Articles
How Is an LLC Treated in a Divorce in Texas? August 23, 2024
Presentations
1980 – Supernumeraries: Master, Auditors, et al, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, State Bar of Texas
1983 – Valuation of Property and Proof of Value, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas
1984, 1985 – Special Problems of Valuation and Division of Corporations, Partnerships and Trusts, Advanced Family Law Short Course, South Texas College of Law
1988 – Valuation of a Closely Held Business and Related Problems of Distribution, Focus on Family Law: Selected Issues in Property and Parent/Child Relationships, State Bar of Texas
1992 – Estate Planning — When it Comes Apart, Advanced Underwriting Seminar, Dallas Chapter of CLU & ChFC
1992 – Examination of the Expert: How to Dress and Un-dress the CPA on the Witness Stand, the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs (with Angeline L. Bain)
1992, 1994 A Characterization & Valuation Primer, Dallas Bar Association, Family Law Section, Pro Bono Training Session
1993 – What Accountants Really Want to Know About Divorce, the CPA Club of North Dallas
1993 – The Partine Dissolution, Dallas Estate Planning Council
1994 – Estate Planning/Divorce Interface, 18th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, State Bar of Texas with Robert H. Kroney and Judge Paula Larsen – 1994
1995 – Enforcement and Clarification – Property Issues, Advanced Family Law Course for Legal Assistants
1995 – On the Cutting Edge of Reimbursement, Marriage Dissolution Seminar, State Bar of Texas (with Tom Greenwald)
1995 – Temporary Motions, Orders and Hearings, Legal Services of North Texas- July Pro Bono Training (With Paula Larsen)
1995 – Family Law Principles In Divorce and Estate Planning, the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs
1996 – Co Presenter of Reimbursement and Alternative Theories of Recovery, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas, Coronado – California, October 11, 1996
1997 – Working as an Expert Witness in Family Law Matters, Dallas Chapter of the Texas Society of CPA’s Divorce Conference -September 25, 1997
1997 – Co Presenter of Defined Contribution Plans, Including the New Treasury Regulation Containing Sample QDRO Language and the PBGC Booklet on QDROs, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas, San Diego, California – October 16, 1997
1998 – Intellectual Property, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (with K. Dennise Garcia), August 19, 1998
1998 – Co Presenter of Strategies for Division of the Complex Estate, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas, Santa Fe – New Mexico, October 16, 1998
1998 – Moderator, Relations and Tensions Between the Media and Attorneys, William “Mac” Taylor Inn of Court – November 10, 1998
1999 – Intellectual Property Issues, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (with K. Dennise Garcia), August 17, 1999
1999 – The Next Millennium: 2000 Ways to Dramatically Present Your Case, Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (with K. Dennise Garcia) – August 19, 1999
1999 – Moderator of Intellectual Property Law and Divorce, The Battle Ground of the Future, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law 1999, State Bar of Texas, San Diego, California – October 14-15, 1999
2000 – Panel, Valuation Problems in the 21st Century, Advanced Family Law Course 2000, State Bar of Texas – August 23, 2000
2001 – Speaking In Codes: What Every Family Lawyer Should Know About the Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Property Code, and Business & Commerce Code (And Throw in the Finance Code and Penal Code), 2001 Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (with Ron Goranson, K. Dennise Garcia and Lynn Davis Ward) – August 7, 2001
2002 – Panelist of Executive Compensation Beyond the 401(k), New Frontiers of Marital Property Law 2002, State Bar of Texas, San Antonio – October 10-11, 2002.
2003 – Speaking In Codes: What Every Family Lawyer Should Know About the Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Property Code, and Business & Commerce Code (And Throw in the Finance Code, Business Organizations Code and Penal Code), Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas (With K. Dennise Garcia, Ronald L. Goranson and Lynn Davis Ward) – August 18, 2003
2005 – Moderator of Panel on Employee Compensation, 2005 Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas – August, 2005
2005 – Panel on Employee Compensation, 2005 New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas – October, 2005
2006 – Estate Planning Counsel – Economic Contribution with Robert Kroney Speaking In Codes, Advanced Family Law – State Bar of Texas – August, 2006 Employee Compensation, Panel Member, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas – October, 2006
2007 – Business Valuation – Advanced Family Law Course – State Bar of Texas – August, 2007
2008 – Speaking In Codes – Marriage Dissolution Institute – State Bar of Texas – 2008
Dealing with Complex Business Entities on Divorce, Panel Member, New Frontiers of Marital Property Law, State Bar of Texas – October, 2008
2009 – Panel Moderator, Family Law Isn’t Just the Family Code: Understanding How Other Codes Apply to Family Law, 2009 Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas – August, 2009
2010 – Reimbursement – 2010 Family Law on the Front Lines, University of Texas, June 4, 2010
2011 – Panel Moderator, Real Estate, Oil & Gas and Estate Planning, 2011 Advanced Family Law Course, State Bar of Texas, August 2011
2011 – A Modest Primer on Business Ownership, Divorce And The Courts, New Frontiers In Marital Property (With Aimee Pingenot) – October 2011
2012 – Identifying, Valuing and Characterizing Natural Resources, New Frontiers In Marital Property – October 2012
