Rune Haako serves as diplomatic attaché and legal counsel to Nute Gunray, a Viceroy of the Trade Federation. Aggressive and conniving, the Neimoidian is known for his merciless negotiating tactics and manipulative treatment of business partners. His eloquence is called upon in frequent attempts to lend an air of credibility and good faith to the Trade Federation's often-dubious actions.
The Neimoidians were initially designed to resemble the lean, wiry battle droids that they command in The Phantom Menace. The look was based on the assumption that the Neimoidians had created the droids in their own image. A last-minute design change resulted in the somewhat grotesque beings depicted in the final design of the characters. These changes allowed for the characters to be portrayed by live actors, rather than being entirely computer-generated.