Tom began his law practice in 1971 as an associate with the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld in the general litigation department. In 1972, he was assigned an estate case and quickly became familiar with community and separate property concepts, cases and law in Texas. The next case involving those same issues was a divorce that was being handled by Jack Hauer. Tom assisted Jack, and in a jury trial, substantiated all of the client's separate estate. In a rather short period of time, Tom was the divorce expert at Akin, Gump. In 1987, Tom founded the a law firm devoted exclusively to divorce and family law. Today that law firm is known as Goranson, Bain, Larsen, Greenwald, Maultsby & Murphy, PLLC (GoransonBain).

Tom's current divorce practice emphasizes significant property cases. He is Board Certified in Family Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1980, a graduate of SMU School of Law (1971), and a frequent lecturer on family law matters covering topics as varied as valuation of property, tracing property, using expert witnesses, estate planning in a divorce context, proving reimbursement claims, understanding intellectual property, and using demonstrative evidence at trial. Tom is also a member of two separate American Inns of Court. The William "Mac" Taylor Inn is a general litigation organization. The membership of 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 for 2003 - 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 been a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 1982. Tom has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America for over ten years. He was named as one of "The Top Lawyers" in family law in the May, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 issues of D Magazine. Texas Monthly has recognized him as a "Super Lawyer" in its November 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 issues (including a selection of one of the top 100 lawyers in Texas in 2004 and 2005). Tom was one of the founding members of, and is currently an active member in, a local Toastmasters International Club Counselors (#5918).