Hammond Chaffetz

Who was Hammond Chaffetz?

Hammond E. Chaffetz was a federal prosecutor and partner at Kirkland & Ellis. He helped turn this law firm into one of the American’s largest law firms.

Born in Massachusetts, Hammond Chaffetz graduated from Harvard Law School in 1930. He joined the U.S. Department of Justice, where he became federal prosecutor specialized in antitrust cases. His victory over 16 oil companies in a price fixing conspiracy soon caught the attention of Weymouth Kirkland, who was defending one of the oil companies. Kirkland offered the young lawyer a partnership at the Washington offices of the firm.

During World War II, he took leave of absence and became a Navy lieutenant commander.

He rejoined the law firm after the war, and was moved to the Chicago offices. He was key to the law firm’s expansion, by recruiting young law students. He withdrew from active law practice in the early 1980s, but remained advisor until his death.

Mr. Chaffetz was also an active supporter of the arts in Chicago, most notably the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Goodman Theatre, and the International Theatre Festival.