Russ Neldam

Russ Neldam is currently the Head of Legal at Mission Barns. Prior to this, they were Senior Counsel at Virgin Hyperloop from May 2020 to March 2022, where they drove business goals and appropriately managed legal risk as a key member of a lean legal team. Russ coordinated with senior management and board, and was known for providing pragmatic, business-minded advice.

Before their time at Virgin Hyperloop, Russ was an Associate at Latham & Watkins from October 2014 to May 2020, where they represented public and private companies at various stages of development and equity sponsors in a wide range of complex and fast-paced transactional matters. Russ negotiated, documented and executed transactions, including equity and security issuances, mergers and acquisitions, secured and unsecured financings, growth and venture capital, working capital loans and cross-border financings. Russ also advised internal stakeholders with respect to general corporate governance, legal entity formation and structuring, business registration and licensing, compliance with US laws and regulations, SEC reporting, facility leases, new market exploration, international expansion, litigation risk, asset sales and acquisitions, intellectual property matters, employment matters and investor, shareholder and public relations. In addition, Russ managed large multidisciplinary teams of legal and non-legal stakeholders to execute on business objectives, including strategic acquisitions, due diligence and contract reviews, management and standardization.

Russ Neldam attended the University of Puget Sound for their undergraduate degree in physics, followed by the University of Southern California for their bachelor's in mechanical engineering. Russ then went on to the University of California, Berkeley - School of Law to obtain their Juris Doctor in energy, environment, and natural resources law.

Russ Neldam reports to Eitan Fischer, CEO. They work with Xiao Guan Radstrom - Director of Cell Line Development, Fuad Haddadin - Vice President, Bioprocess, and Jose Cuello - Vice President of People.