Patton Boggs has managed to stay well ahead of the rest of K Street in 2009. The firm's more than 100 lobbyists posted fee income of $29.2 million for the first nine months of the year, which is about $6 million more than its closest competitor, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, which posted lobbying fee income of $23.6 million.

A few notables on the list: the fastest-growing firms included Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta's firm, the Podesta Group (up 61%); former Democratic Louisiana Sen. John Breaux's firm, the Breaux Lott Leadership Group (+42%); Holland & Knight (+42%); and Brownstein Hyatt & Farber (+41%).

Law and lobbying firm Alston & Bird, where former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., is an adviser, made it to the top 25 list of lobbying firms for the first time.

Here's a look at the list of top firms based on National Journal's analysis of the lobbying disclosure forms reported to Congress on Oct. 20.

Firm First 3Q Fees 2009 Vs. 2008 Percent Change From 2008
1. Patton Boggs $29.2 million vs $29.7 million -2%
2. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld $23.6 million vs $26.9 million -12%
3. Van Scoyoc Associates $19.96 million vs $19.5 million +2%
4. Podesta Group $18.7 million vs $11.6 million +61%
5. Holland & Knight $15.8 million vs $11.1 million +42%
6. Cassidy & Associates $15.7 million vs $17.6 million -11%
7. Brownstein Hyatt & Farber $15.4 million vs $10.9 million +41%
8. Dutko Worldwide $14.8 million vs $15.3 million -3%
9. K & L Gates $14.0 million vs $11.6 million +21%
9. Ogilvy Government Relations $14.0 million vs $13.4 million +4%
11. Hogan & Hartson $13.4 million vs $14.6 million -8%
12. Williams & Jensen $12.4 million vs $12.2 million +2%
13. BGR Group $11.9 million vs $13.99 million -15%
14. Quinn Gillespie & Associates $10.6 million vs $11.2 million -5%
15. Washington Council Ernst & Young $10.5 million vs $8.55 +23%
16. Cornerstone Government Affairs $9.3 million vs 8.36 million +11%
17. Ferguson Group $9.27 million vs 7.46 million +24.2%
18. Capitol Tax Partners $8.63 million vs $8.31 million +4%
19. Venable $8.18 million vs 6.44 million +27%
20. McBee Strategic Consulting $8.16 million vs 6.96 million +17%
21. Alcalde & Fay $8.13 million vs $8.01 million +1%
22. The Breaux Lott Leadership Group $8.04 million vs. 5.67 million +42%
23. Alston & Bird $8.01 million vs $5.86 +37