UPDATE@5:24 pm on July 31 to update DLA Piper lobbying figures. Due to a data entry error by the Senate records office, the firm's first half figures were incorrect .

Podesta Group, the lobbying firm founded by Democrat Tony Podesta, showed the biggest percentage gain in lobbying fees among the top 25 firms on K Street during the first half of 2009, according to lobbying disclosure forms filed with the Senate Office of Public Records and analyzed by National Journal.

For the first half of this year, Podesta's fees were $11.8 million, up 63 percent, compared with the first half of 2008. The second fastest growing firm on K Street was the Breaux Lott Leadership Group, which posted fees of $5.2 million, up 53 percent from the first half of 2008. The firm was founded by former Senators John Breaux, D-La. and Trent Lott, R-Miss.

Law and lobbying firm Patton Boggs pulled in the most lobbying income of any firm, posting first half lobbying revenue of $18.4 million, down 10 percent from the first half of 2008. Patton Boggs partner James Christian said the decline was related to the tough economy but business has been picking up this year as Congress wrestles with big issues like energy, financial services and health care reform,

Almost every top 25 law and lobbying firm posted a decline in lobbying fees for the first half of the year. Only the law firms Brownstein, Hyatt & Farber, Holland & Knight, K & L Gates and Venable bucked that trend and posted gains in fees. Lobbying firms Cornerstone Government Affairs, Ferguson Group, McBee Strategic Consulting, Washington Council Ernst & Young also reported gains in income.

(Photo above of Tony Podesta courtesy of Creative Commons)

Click on the jump below to get our list of the top 25 firms for the first half of 2009.

Firm 1st Half Fees 2009 Vs. 2008 Percent Change From 2008
1. Patton Boggs $18.4 million vs $20.5 million -10.2%
2. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld $16.0 million vs $17.8 million -10.1%
3. Van Scoyoc Associates $13.1 million vs $13.2 million -.01%
4. Podesta Group $11.8 million vs $7.24 million +63%
5. Holland & Knight $10.3 million vs $7.36 million +40%
6. Cassidy & Associates $9.99 million vs $11.7 million -15%
7. Dutko Worldwide $9.97 million vs $10.3 million -3%
8. K & L Gates $9.45 milion vs $7.94 million +19%
9. Brownstein Hyatt & Farber $9.22 million vs $6.91 million +33%
10. Hogan & Hartson $8.92 million vs $10.3 million -13.3%
11. Ogilvy Government Relations $8.81 million vs $9.0 million -2%
12. Williams & Jensen $8.26 million vs $8.23 million flat
13. BGR Holding $8.13 million vs $9.76 million -17%
14. Quinn Gillespie & Associates 6.73 million 7.34 million -8%
15. Washington Council Ernst & Young 6.55 million vs 5.61 million +17%
16. Cornerstone Government Affairs 6.07 million vs 5.62 million +8%
17. Ferguson Group 5.86 million vs 5.55 million +6%
18. DLA Piper 5.52 million vs 6.68 million -17%
19. Capitol Tax Partners 5.48 million vs 5.57 million -2%
20. Carmen Group 5.43 million vs 5.47 million -1%
21. Venable 5.42 million vs 4.44 million +22%
22. Alcalde & Fay 5.38 million vs 5.39 million flat
23. McBee Strategic Consulting 5.34 million vs 4.69 million +14%
24. The Breaux Lott Leadership Group 5.12 million vs. 3.35 million +53%
25. Covington & Burling 5.10 million vs. 5.42 million -6%