 In 2009, the firm gained unpleasant notoriety in the midst of the global recession when they laid off 190 lawyers and 250 paralegal and support staff, representing twelve percent of the firm's total associates and ten percent of the support staff.At a time when many firms were conducting layoffs, the term 'Lathamed' became legal slang for being 'laid off'.Dell retired at the end of 2014, and was succeeded by William Voge, a long time project finance partner at the firm.