Here is how the top 10 firms fared in 2015:

Akin Gump: up 11 percent to $39.4 million

Brownstein Hyatt: up 9 percent to $25.7 million

Squire Patton Boggs: down 22 percent to $25 million

Podesta Group: down 8 percent to $23.2 million

Van Scoyoc Associates: up 0.3 percent to $21.9

Holland & Knight: up 1 percent to $19.9 million

K&L Gates: up 4 percent to $18.1 million

BGR Group: up 11 percent to $17.6 million

Capitol Counsel: down 6 percent to $17.1 million

Williams & Jensen: up 1 percent to $16.9 million

“With Congress and the administration being more active, we had a good year helping our clients achieve their policy objectives through legislation and regulations,” said Darrell Conner, co-chair of the policy practice at K&L Gates. “There is a perception that [Congress] is doing nothing, and the reality is they’re actually achieving a lot.”

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In 2015, lawmakers approved a number of major bills that drew intense lobbying, including from the health, business and energy sectors. Not surprisingly, lobby shops boosted their bottom line in those areas.

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Congress passed “doc fix” legislation regarding Medicare payments to doctors, Trade Promotion Authority giving the White House enhanced negotiating powers on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, an omnibus spending bill funding the government through September 2016 and a deal extending tax breaks for businesses and individuals.

It also enacted a multi-year highway bill for the first time in a decade and repealed the longtime ban on crude oil exports. Moreover, continued efforts by Republicans to roll back environmental regulations issued by the Obama administration also drove business to lobby firms in 2015.

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“The administration has been aggressive on climate change and environmental issues,” Conner said. “That has led to increased regulatory work and increased legislative activity as Congress starts to push back on the administration’s climate change proposals.”

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While presidential election years often mark a slowdown in business for K Street, some veteran lobbyists say 2016 may be an exception. They point to two reasons: House Speaker Paul Ryan’s pledge to restore “regular order” and some uncertainty over who will be the nominees for president.

“We’re in a period of more regular order, which we expect to continue, and that leads to regular business,” said Don Pongrace, head of Akin Gump’s public law and policy group. “Whether or not bills pass isn’t always the question. If there’s the prospect they might pass, our clients are taking notice.”

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New leadership in Congress may break its election year pattern of legislating only until mid-year.