Margarita Kelrikh

Counsel

Corporate

T: +1.713.276.7649

T: +1.212.569.1000

Margarita Kelrikh focuses her practice on venture capital equity financings, debt and private credit, mergers and acquisitions, complex commercial transactions, and other general corporate matters.

Margarita guides entrepreneurs and startup companies across a variety of industries through all stages of their life cycle, from formation and financing, to exit. Margarita leverages her deep understanding of the startup ecosystem to help clients navigate complex legal challenges and ensure that they are well-positioned for growth and success. Her strategic approach and business acumen enable her to provide tailored legal solutions that align with her clients’ goals. With extensive experience in the emerging companies space, Margarita is a trusted advisor to both startups and the investors who fund them.

Prior to joining Pillsbury, Margarita was an attorney at the Houston office of an international law firm. She also served as general counsel to a hospitality company and in-house counsel to a private investment firm and coworking space company, giving her valuable insights into the internal legal needs of businesses across a diverse range of industries.

Representative Experience

Represented Lionhead, a private investment firm, in leading an $80 million strategic equity financing for Kinterra Capital Corp., a private equity firm focused on investments across a broad range of sectors, including critical minerals.
Represented Chevron Technology Ventures in its investment in Erg Bio’s $6.5 million Series Seed financing.
Represented a battery technology company in its convertible note financing.

Represented a Swiss-based independent energy and commodity group as lender to a U.S.-based carbon capture and storage project development and finance company in connection with a promissory note facility.

Professional Highlights

Served on the judging panel for the 2023 Houston Innovation Awards.

Speaking Engagements

Founders + Funders Series #1: From Shares to Scale — Understanding Cap Table Math, September 18, 2025.
Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week: Investor Insights Panel, September 17, 2025.