5. Colodny Fass Talenfeld Karlinsky & Abate - $4.7 million (average)

Katherine Scott Webb became a partner at Colodny Fass Talenfeld Karlinsky & Abate, Florida's fifth-biggest lobbying firm, in 2009. [Photo: Colin Hackley]

Executive branch lobbying: $1,740,120 - $4,059,768

Total fees: $2,990,164 - $6,499,649

Background: Former four-term North Miami Mayor Mike Colodny founded the firm in 1972. Its lobbyists include Fred Karlinsky, who leads the firm's governmental consulting practice, Katherine Scott Webb, Trevor Mask and Timothy Fordham Stanfield.

Notable clients: Boyd Gaming; Dombia of Illinois; Dosal Tobacco; Florida Economic Development Council; FCCI Insurance Group; G4S Youth Services; Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; USA Managed Care Organization/USA Senior Care Network; Wackenhut

4. Ronald L. Book - $5.6 million (average)

Legislative branch lobbying: $3,791,822 - $5,559,767

Executive branch lobbying: $837,502 - $979,963

Total fees: $4,629,324 - $6,539,730

Background: Ron Book, a former aide to Gov. Bob Graham, founded his firm in 1987 after five years with Sparber, Shevin, Shapo, Heilbronner & Book. Two other non-lawyer lobbyists practice with him: Kelly Mallette, former chief of staff for the mayor of Miami and former Biscayne Park commissioner, is the firm's director of governmental affairs. Rana Brown, who was a legislative assistant in the Florida Senate and senior vice president of advocacy at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, works on appropriations matters and also focuses on local governments and regional planning councils. The firm helped lobby for the billion-dollar port tunnel project in Miami-Dade, the $80-million human genomics grant for the University of Miami's Leonard Miller School of Medicine, and the establishment of the Life Sciences Park on the medical school campus.

Notable clients: AshBritt; AT&T; AutoNation; Bail Agents Independent League of Florida; Carlisle Development Group; Creditguard of America; Children's Home Society; Florida Panthers; Florida Power & Light; GEO Group; University of Miami; West Flagler Kennel Club; White Rock Quarries; numerous Florida cities

3. Southern Strategy Group - $7.5 million (average)

Southern Strategy's Paul Bradshaw talks with Senate President Mike Haridopolos. [Photo: Colin Hackley]

Legislative branch lobbying: $1,450,196 - $4,679,677

Executive branch lobbying: $2,440,212- $6,449,599

Total fees: $3,890,408 - $11,129,276

Background: Paul Bradshaw, a campaign consultant for Jeb Bush and Florida counsel for the George W. Bush for President campaign, founded the firm in 1999. He has since built a network of 16 offices in 12 states, with more than 300 clients. Its Tallahassee team includes T.K. Wetherell, former Speaker of the House and president of FSU; Electra Bustle, former director of Florida Highway Safety; Tom Arnold; former secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration; Stacey Webb, former assistant chancellor for community colleges; and Paul Mitchell, former chief of staff to the CFO. A recent addition, David Browning, served on Gov. Rick Scott's campaign team and also was the lead fundraiser for Speaker Dean Cannon, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, CFO Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

Notable clients: Amtrak; Apple; Associated Industries of Florida; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida; CVS/Caremark; Embraer Aircraft Holding; Fidelity Investments; Florida Crystals; International Speedway; Mosaic; TECO Energy; Wachovia; Walt Disney World

1. (tie) GrayRobinson — $7.9 million (average)

Executive branch lobbying: $2,507,101 - $4,597,749

Total fees: $5,594,215 - $10,217,450

Background: Founded in 1970, the firm has 240 attorneys in 10 offices around the state, including Tallahassee. The firm's Tallahassee lobbyists include Pete Antonacci, John Harris, Chris Hansen, Mike Huey, George Meros and Jason Unger. Chris Carmody, Fred Leonhardt and Robert Stuart work out of the Orlando office. Byrd F. "Biff" Marshall Jr., president of GrayRobinson, has managed the firm since 1992.

Notable clients: Bayer HealthCare; CB Richard Ellis; Dosal Tobacco; Florida Association of Blood Banks; Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association; JP Morgan Chase; Laboratory Corp. of America; Orlando Magic; U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform; WellCare Health Plans

1. (tie) Smith & Ballard - $7.9 million (average)

"Business has picked up over the past six months," says Brian Ballard. "Once it goes through folks like us, it's a good sign the economy's picking up."

Legislative branch lobbying: $2,678,156 - $5,489,688

Executive branch lobbying: $2,528,152 - $5,149,707

Total fees: $5,206,308 - $10,639,395

Background: Founded in 1995, the firm is headed by former Secretary of State and Attorney General Jim Smith and his son-in-law, Brian Ballard. Ballard, former Gov. Bob Martinez's chief of staff, was chairman of the finance committee for Gov. Rick Scott's inauguration. The firm, headquartered in Tallahassee, has an office in West Palm Beach and a Jacksonville office headed by former Jacksonville Jaguar Tony Boselli and Susie Wiles, who ran Scott's gubernatorial campaign.

Notable clients: 3M; Amazon.com; Baptist Healthcare; Bethesda Healthcare System; Computer Sciences Corp.; Deloitte Consulting; Florida Concrete & Products Association; Florida Power & Light; Geico; Harris Corp.; Liggett Group; Nemours Foundation; U.S. Sugar Corp.; Universal Health Care