Lott Dodd was the Neimoidian Senator of the Trade Federation shipping cartel during the Invasion of Utapau, a conflict between the Federation and Utapau. One year earlier, Dodd sat on the Trade Federation Directorate, the board that oversaw the entire corporation, along with other members of various species. That same year, Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray had the non-Neimoidian members assassinated during the Summit on Eriadu. Gunray and Dodd were absent from the meeting, possibly on purpose to avoid suspicion.