Thomas E. Banks II

Thomas E. Banks, II (Tom) has committed his entire career to the practice of family law in Kentucky and Indiana. Recognized by judges, colleagues and clients throughout the area as one of the preeminent trial lawyers in Kentucky and Indiana, Tom takes great pride in helping his clients through an extraordinarily difficult process. Both divorce and custody litigation involve niche skill sets, each of which Tom has studied and trained for years to master.

Particularly beneficial in business valuation and high asset divorces, Tom focused his undergraduate studies in accounting and received a Bachelor of Science in Business with honors from the University of Louisville. Tom worked in database management and accounting at Baptist Hospital East during this time, deepening his understanding of both business and medical accounting.

Knowing he was interested in the field of Law, Tom then attended Cornell University’s Prelaw program. Graded for both oral and written advocacy, Tom graduated #1 in his class amongst some of the brightest minds in the nation.

In 2004, Tom received the Karen Allen Memorial Scholarship and attended the University of Louisville Law School. The Scholarship is awarded to students with high academic performance and who have shown prowess in the field of corporate or business legalities. Tom graduated in 2007 and began practice immediately in the field of Family Law.

While his studies and work experience lent themselves to the financial aspects of divorce, Tom has always been fascinated with psychology and behavioral sciences. Much of his free time has been spent studying and presenting on these subjects and their correlation in family law. That fascination has given Tom a great deal of advantage as it relates to custody litigation. Having a real understanding of both child and adult psychology, Tom is well-equipped to work with or against the custodial and psychological evaluations which are often the pivotal component of a high-conflict custody case. Tom has become one of the most sought-after custody lawyers in the area.

Tom’s trial prowess is well-established in Kentucky and Indiana. As a result of this skill set, Tom has been selected by judges and his peers as a Super Lawyer of Kentucky for every year in which he was age-qualified for selection, now eight consecutive years. Tom was a “Rising Star” for the five years prior to his qualification, also a peer-selected honor. Tom is a former Chair of the Family Law Section of the Louisville Bar Association.

In 2019, Tom was admitted to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, an honor that only 2% of family lawyers receive globally. Tom was selected after rigorous written examination, local review, national review and application process that required both judicial and colleague recommendation.

As a result of the above, Tom is often hired as the “trial lawyer” after negotiations through prior lawyers failed. With expertise in all facets of business and custody evaluations, Tom is often hired as co-counsel for the examination of opposing experts and the preparation of trial. Tom has been offered as an expert in both fields, and has presented nationally on many topics related to divorce litigation such as:

1. Locating hidden assets;
2. Cryptocurrency;
3. Valuation of businesses and nonmarital components;
4. Alienation, Enmeshment and Parentization;
5. Cross examination, Direct Examination and presenting cohesive arguments;
6. Evidence in family law;
7. Depositions and written discovery in family law.

Tom loves the preparation of and challenge of trial, though it will always be his advice to reach a reasonable settlement if doing so is in your best interest. Known for his courtroom skill, breadth of knowledge, and commitment to his clients, Tom is one of the most sought-after custody and divorce counsel in Kentucky or Indiana, and is quite honored to be so.