Partner and chair of Katten's Entertainment and Media Transactions practice, Michael Hobel, and Entertainment and Media partner, Melanie Tomanov, were named to Variety's 2021 Legal Impact Report, recognizing them as among the top attorneys in the entertainment industry.

For more than 25 years, Michael has been recognized as a leader in the legal profession on entertainment transactions across digital, television and film. Throughout 2020, he counseled clients that included HBO, WarnerMedia and Hulu through challenges those companies faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"My satisfaction has been helping clients with the barrage of issues and problems and challenges they face," Michael said.

Melanie represents studios, production companies, writers and directors in developing projects, signing deals and launching businesses. During the pandemic, she assisted many of her animation clients through challenges, including The ULULU Company, a production company founded by animator Matt Groening, to deliver 10 episodes of the show "Disenchantment" to Netflix on time and on budget despite lockdown measures.

"Animation has proven more resilient than live-action. That was really gratifying because it was such a huge challenge. Nobody knew how to do it. We just figured it out," Melanie said.

Variety's Legal Impact Report 2021.