$7.82 million

Sacramento has lots of big-dog lobbyists. The political law firm Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller & Naylor always ranks at or near the top, with clients like Apple, Bank of America, Motion Picture Assn. of America and Californians for Ferret Legislation. Its billings led all others at $7.82 million between 2005 and Sept. 30, 2006. —Dan Morain