Before Goranson Bain Ausley, Thomas L. Ausley was a founding partner of its predecessor, Ausley, Algert, Robertson & Flores, LLP. Tom has spent his career dedicated to practicing family law, and his steadfast integrity in advising and guiding his clients has earned him the highest level of respect from both judges and his peers. In 2013, he received the Sam Emison Award from the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists for his significant work in family law. Tom also received the Austin Bar Association’s Distinguished Lawyer Award in 2008 and the Texas Bar Foundation’s Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award in 2019.
Tom possesses a wealth of skill and experience from his numerous years practicing family law. He has excelled in cases involving Collaborative Divorce, high-net-worth divorce, mediation, and pre- and post-marital agreements. Today, his primary focus is on complex property cases. His years of handling complex property cases have provided him with extensive knowledge of the issues concerning closely held business interests and larger estates. However, whether he’s helping clients with a Collaborative Divorce or a complex property division, Tom always encourages those he represents to show compassion, especially regarding the interests of any children who may be involved.
Tom has shown himself to be a master litigator many times over, but he knows that’s not the only approach. He is highly skilled at developing creative solutions that help keep his clients out of court. Tom is also an exceptional negotiator who uses his talents in mediation to help settle disputes to obtain a favorable outcome. Whether through collaborative law, trial, mediation, or settlement conferences, Tom’s goal is always to help his clients reach the best resolution possible.
Tom has earned a reputation as one of the most recognized and respected divorce attorneys in Austin, Texas. His extensive and impressive list of accomplishments and professional association memberships includes:
Texas Board of Legal Specialization certification in family law
Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
President of AAML Texas Chapter (2005-06)
Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers
Member of the American Bar Association Family Law Section
Outside of his legal practice, Tom has also taught courses on family law for the State Bar of Texas and authored several articles. His accomplishments both in and out of the courtroom have made him a highly requested panelist and speaker. Martindale-Hubbell gave him an “AV” Preeminent® rating in their legal directory, and he was also the recipient of the Austin Bar Association’s Larry York Mentor Award in 2016.
Honors & Awards
Professionalism Award, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2019
Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award, Texas Bar Foundation, 2019
Selected to Austin Monthly’s Top Attorneys, 2022 – 2024
Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law, Best Lawyers, 1987 – 2026
Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law Mediation, Best Lawyers, 2023-2026
Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law Collaborative Law, Best Lawyers, 2024 – 2026
Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Family Law Arbitration, Best Lawyers, 2026
Named to the 500 Leading Family Lawyers List, LawDragon, 2024 – 2026
Larry York Mentor Award, Austin Bar Association, 2016
Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2025
Selected to the “Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2007
Selected to the “Top 50: Central/West Texas Region Super Lawyers”, Thomson Reuters, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2015- 2023
Recognized for Contributions to the Advancement of Professionalism and Collegiality, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2015
Sam Emison Award, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, 2013
Named the Best Lawyers© Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Austin, Best Lawyers, 2009
Distinguished Lawyer Award, Austin Bar Association, 2008
Outstanding Fundraiser Award, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Austin Chapter, 2008
President and Chair’s Courage and Integrity Award, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 2004
Good Guys and Gals Award, National Women’s Political Caucus, Texas Chapter, 2004
“AV” Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
Finalist, 1st annual “Ethics in Business Awards”: Individual (Samaritan Counseling Center and St. Edwards University)
Articles
What is Needed to Prove Separate Property at Time of Divorce December 17, 2018
Publications & Speeches
Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Drafting Course, The Use of Paralegals in Family Law Cases, 1995
Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, Valuation and Appraisals, 1997
Author, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Courses, Ethical Traps in Family Law Cases: Avoiding Land Mines, 1998
Author, State Bar of Texas Advance Family Law Course, In the Trenches: Winning Techniques in Family Law Litigation, 1998
Author, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, Securing and Collecting What Your Client Got, 1999
Author/Speaker, Ultimate Trial Notebook for Family Law, The Use of Paralegals in Family Law Cases, 2000
Author/Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course, Professionalism in Family Law, 2004
Author/Speaker, Ultimate Trial Notebook, Pretrial and Scheduling Orders, 2004
Author/Speaker, Collaborative Law Spring Retreat, Leadership and Self-Renewal for Collaborative Professionals, 2005
Author/Speaker, University of Texas Family Law on the Front Lines, Impaired Clients: Ethical Issues and Advocacy, 2005
Author/Speaker, Associate Judge’s Training, The Hague Convention, 2005
Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, Ethics & the Enhancement of the Attorney-Client Relationship, 2005
Author/Speaker, Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar, Professionalism & Ethics for Paralegals, 2006
Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, The Professional Practice: Yourself, Your Office, and Your Relationships with Others, 2008
Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, Getting to Closure and Managing Client Relations, Collaborative Family Law Track, 2008
Author/Speaker, Marriage Dissolution Course 101, Temporary Orders: What You Can Get and How to Get It, 2010
Author/Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course: The Professional Practice, 2013
Presentations
“Professionalism: Lessons Learned”, presenter, Advanced Family Law, State Bar of Texas, 2019
Panelist, State Bar of Texas Family Law 101 – The Top Ten Do’s and Don’ts – Lawyers View, 2017
Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course – How to Live Long, be Prosperous and be a Professional, 2016
Panelist, State Bar of Texas New Frontiers in Marital Property Law – Employee Benefits, How the World is Changing, 2016
Speaker, Marriage Dissolution Institute – Masters of Family Law, 2016
Speaker, Marriage Dissolution Institute – Taking the “High Road” Encourages Integrity, 2015
Speaker, Family Law 101 – Basic Litigation Techniques: What Works and What Doesn’t, 2015
Author/Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course – Do’s and Don’ts in Trial Preparation/Litigation, 2015
Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course – Professionalism in Family Law, 2014
Speaker Panelist, Civil Litigation – Witness Testimony: Nailing Your Direct and Cross-Examination, 2014
Speaker, Technology 360 Conference – Balancing Your Life in This Technical World, 2014
Speaker, Various seminars for the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas, State Bar of Texas, Travis County Bar Association, and Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
Speaker, Advanced Family Law Course – Top Ten Property Case You Need to Know, 2012
Speaker, International Conference on Couple and Family Relations – Is it Child Abuse and Neglect or Social Policy Gone Awry?, 2012
Panelist, State Bar of Texas Negotiation Strategies for Lawyers and Negotiation Ethics, 2012
Speaker, Marriage Dissolution Course 101 – Client Screening: It’s a Tough Job, But Somebody’s Got to Do It, 2011
Co-Course Director, Advanced Family Law Course, 2011
Speaker/Panelist, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course – Valuation: Approaches, Assets and Authority, 2010
Speaker, State Bar of Texas Family Law Boot Camp – Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2010
Speaker, Austin Bar Association – Family Law Practice in Difficult Economic Times, 2009
Panelist, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course – Joinder of Third Parties: Entities and/or Individuals, 2009
Speaker, Collaborative Law Institute of Texas Boot Camp – Ethics in Collaborative Law, 2009
Speaker, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Annual Meeting, USA and Canadian Chapters, The Path to Yearning for Zion/FLDS, 2009
Speaker/Panelist, University of Texas School of Law and Texas Family Law Foundation’s 10th Biennial Family Law Legislative Update, 2009
Speaker/Panelist, State Bar of Texas Family Law on the Front Lines – Representing the Difficult Client, 2007
Workshop Moderator, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, Advanced Collaborative Law, 2007
Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course – The Not So Easy To Identify Executive Employment Benefits, 2007
Speaker, Paralegal Association of the Permian Basin – Ethics, 2006
Speaker, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists’ Trial Institute – Litigation Alternative – Collaborative Law, 2006
Moderator of Judges’ Panel, State Bar of Texas Marriage Dissolution Institute, 2006
Course Director, Family Law, State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, 2006
Course Director, Ultimate Trial Notebook, 2006
Speaker, 1st Annual Collaborative Law Seminar – The Use of Collaborative Law in Your Practice, 2004
Speaker, University of Texas Family Law on the Front Lines – Collaborative Law, 2004
Speaker, State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course – Characterization and Tracing, 2003
