RosettiStarr offers world-class intelligence, investigations and research. Headquartered in Washington D.C., we have a uniquely powerful perspective of the intersection of business, politics and perception. Our work gives portfolio managers, general counsel, outside counsel, and corporate executive teams the confidence to make more informed decisions and take bold actions.
Our founders, Richard Rosetti and Michael Starr, each have more than 25 years of industry experience and are directly involved in helping to establish realistic goals and a plan for each assignment.
The firm's leaders are supported by a world-class team. Our staff comes from a variety of industries and includes attorneys, trained and licensed private investigators, journalists, former military personnel and researchers. Our multidisciplinary team draws on skills sets and experience in many areas.
Joe Andrews brings more than two decades of experience in national security, corporate intelligence, and investigations, as well as strategic advisory in government, international organizations, and private institutions. He has advised C-suite executives and heads of state, and his overseas assignments and client engagements have spanned countries in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, many in hostile environments or frontier markets.
As a senior intelligence officer with the US government, Joe led and served in mission critical units assessing potential threats to national security, producing analysis for senior US policymakers, including two Presidents and their cabinets, and supporting covert operations. Previously, he held assignments with the UN, an international NGO, and the State Department at the US Mission to the UN. Joe taught graduate-level courses on global security and post-conflict transition at several universities, including Columbia, Georgetown, and George Washington. He earned a master’s in international affairs from Columbia and a bachelor’s in psychology and communications from UNC Chapel Hill where he graduated with highest honors.
Mykyta Baryshev has deep expertise in enhanced due diligence and risk assessments related to large private placements, acquisitions, and complex transactions involving large institutional investors. Additionally, Mr. Baryshev is adept in a range of highly technical disciplines helping clients analyze mobile phone operating systems, applications, and computer software for security risk and implementation into secure communications systems.
Prior to RosettiStarr, Mr. Baryshev worked in corporate ethics and compliance, where he led compliance training for all employees of a multinational corporation and headed due diligence processes for third party intermediaries. Mr. Baryshev holds an M.B.A. from American University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.
Matt Clark has broad experience managing risk for corporate clients in diverse sectors domestically and abroad. He oversees all aspects of enterprise security to protect employees, safeguard intellectual property, and minimize corporate liability.
Matt currently supervises security operations internally for RosettiStarr’s global investigations practice and externally for a multinational corporation. He develops and implements security standards worldwide. Previously, Matt managed security for a regional bank, including physical security for branches, operations centers, and the corporate headquarters. Additionally, he has successfully led complex investigations relating to financial fraud, intellectual property theft, and white-collar criminal prosecutions. He maintains a network of security vendors and investigators in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America to support his client’s objectives.
Kip Edwards has extensive experience managing complex domestic and international investigations relating to white-collar crime, corporate fraud, intellectual property enforcement and asset recoveries for law firms, corporate management teams and private-sector clients seeking more facts and better outcomes. Kip also assists major hedge funds and the world’s largest private equity firms assert influence in arbitrage, M&A, and leadership overhaul campaigns by providing strategy guidance, assessing investment risk and conducting assessments of high net worth and influential individuals and companies, worldwide.
He is comfortable operating in novel legal environments and maintains a trusted network of investigators and financial and security professionals around the world. Kip has led successful investigations for large private investors and publicly traded companies in six continents for civil and governmental claims worth over $19 billion and for institutional-scale investments valued at more than $10 billion. Recently, Kip led a multi-jurisdictional investigation which resulted in a record setting $500 million judgment for his client--the largest ever award for copyright infringement of images and the third largest award for copyright infringement of any kind.
Kip holds a Juris Doctor from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland.
Justin McLendon has 13 years of experience in pre-transactional due diligence investigations, white-collar crime, high level corporate talent investigations, and corporate leadership investigations. He is a skilled case manager and investigative researcher whose expertise in open-source and public record data as well as domestic and international court structures is invaluable to our corporate intelligence and litigation support practices. Justin's attention to detail and ability to synthesize massive amounts of OSINT and public record data serves our clients investigative and due diligence needs with precision. Justin graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland.
Anthony Sartori is an industry expert on open-source research and intelligence. He is a seasoned investigator with over two decades in the field, specializing in financial due diligence investigations, white-collar crime investigations, pre- and post-trial litigation strategies, fraud identification, asset searches, and other transactional and business intelligence matters. His efforts have resulted in completion of thousands of due diligence reviews in advance of mergers and acquisitions, the recovery of millions of dollars in assets, and hundreds of successful litigation results for his clients.
He has developed an extensive network of experienced investigators and former intelligence agents with a truly global reach. Anthony previously led his own investigative research firm and has served in senior positions at other well-known investigations companies. He holds an undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University.
Elizabeth Schmitz specializes in corporate intelligence and high level corporate deep dive investigations for RosettiStarr. Prior to RosettiStarr, she worked on behalf of corporate and foreign government clients at a leading DC lobbing firm. She has also distinguished herself in the world of international nonprofits, including postings in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. She holds an M.A. from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.
Jeff Smith is a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist and world renowned expert in fraud and corruption investigations. Smith won a Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2006, along with two colleagues at the Washington Post, for articles on corruption involving House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and lobbyist Jack Abramoff. He was also a finalist with other Washington Post reporters for the Pulitzer Prize in international reporting in 1999 (from Kosovo), and a finalist with others for the Pulitzer Prize in national reporting in 2005 (about Abu Ghraib and military prisoner abuse). In 2006, he and two other Washington Post reporters received the Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting and the Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Reporting.
Before RosettiStarr, Smith was managing editor for national security at the Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C. Previously, he was the national investigative editor, national security correspondent, and national investigative correspondent at The Washington Post, writing about public corruption, judicial issues, intelligence matters, counter-terrorism, and other national security topics. From 1998 until 2001, he was the newspaper’s bureau chief in Rome, covering Southern Europe and the armed conflicts and political revolutions in the Balkans.
Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and public policy from Duke University and a Master of Science degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has been a fellow at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Arms Control, the East-West Center in Hawaii, New York University’s Remarque Institute, the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center, and Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.
Sebastian Sosman started his investigative career in 2010 and specializes in business intelligence, transactional due diligence and internal corporate investigations. He has worked on numerous high profile matters involving corporate takeovers, shareholder disputes and white color fraud.
Sebastian has over 10 years of international experience, living and working on three continents. He has a BA in European History from Bates College and an MA in International Affairs from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Faith Apt is an accomplished administrator responsible for the day-to-day operations at RosettiStarr. She oversees office facilities, telecommunications/IT, purchasing, employee on-boarding, benefits administration and accounting. Faith manages all aspects of personnel relations and the RosettiStarr Mentorship Program.
Previously, she worked for a large national accounting firm, initially as their operations administrator and then as its event manager for the national marketing team.
William Halliday brings deep experience leading and managing corporate security investigations and operations to RosettiStarr, including nine years of work as a VP for security programs and screening at Morgan Stanley and five years conducting security reviews for clients at Kroll Associates. He came to RosettiStarr after directing security operations for more than 15 years at Marsh McLennan, a global risk firm with 83,000 employees in 100 countries. He is an expert in asset and executive protection, travel risk assessment, internal safety controls, event security, crisis management, employee screening, and training. He graduated with honors from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and has completed computer technology training at New York University.
Harnessing years of experience in civil litigation, Stuart Koo supports RosettiStarr's investigations and litigation support practice and conducts pre-transactional due diligence investigations for hedge funds, private equity firms, and other institutional investors.
Prior to RosettiStarr, he worked on a wide variety of complex litigation matters relating to pharmaceutical product liability, antitrust, copyright infringement, and breach of contract matters. Stuart also provided litigation support to investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. He is barred in Maryland and holds a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law, with concentrations in Business Law and Intellectual Property Law, and a B.A. with honors from the University of Maryland.
Andrew Martel specializes in deep-dive corporate investigations, pre-transactional due diligence investigations, and competitive intelligence. He has extensive experience conducting qualitative customer and market studies for major investors and businesses interested in acquiring other ventures or entering new markets.
Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Andrew worked in marketing, market research and business intelligence. This experience allows him to provide clients with unique insight into market dynamics and the competitive positioning relevant businesses. Additionally, Andrew spent years as a print journalist covering a wide range of subject from government to business matters where he gained strong experience conducting hard-hitting interviews, researching public records, and reporting relevant facts. He holds an M.B.A. from Temple University and a B.A. from American University.
Doug Pasternak spent more than 16 years leading oversight and investigative matters on three separate congressional committees. In the U.S. Senate, he served as Staff Director of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, part of the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, where he managed more than a dozen attorneys, investigators, and law clerks. Previously, Doug was Director of Investigations & Oversight for the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure where he led the committee’s 18-month investigation into two crashes of Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft (his role in this investigation was featured in a PBS FRONTLINE segment). Prior to his Congressional experience he was an investigative reporter at U.S. News & World Report magazine and later at NBC Nightly News where he won two Emmy-awards for “outstanding investigative reporting” both in the business reporting category.
Sofia Cabrejas is an seasoned researcher and project manager with extensive experience conducting and managing multi-month long projects including litigation support, strategic analysis and situation monitoring. Since joining RosettiStarr in 2019, Sofia has led and completed intellectual property related litigation support research, as well as managing a team providing regular updates on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic to multiple major clients. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Sofia was a senior manager at a New York-based global due diligence firm, where she led its M&A and pre-IPO diligence practice. Sofia holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin Madison and an MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution with a concentration in Corruption, Conflict, and Terrorism from American University in Washington, DC.
Hannah Giambattista has strong experience developing and implementing innovative technology solutions in various security design and intelligence research applications. She is also a strong investigative researcher focusing on pre-transactional due diligence, litigation support, and executive talent investigations.
Prior to RosettiStarr, Hannah worked for the District of Columbia’s Public Defender Service where she gained valuable experience interviewing witnesses, evaluating legal defenses, and working with attorneys in defense of their clients. At RosettiStarr she has developed this experience further by participating in domestic and international intellectual property investigations to support corporate and legal clients around the world. Hannah graduated Cum Laude from American University.
Sasha Han is a director with experience in pre-IPO and M&A due diligence and international compliance. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Sasha managed the research process for a large compliance firm in the Washington, D.C. area. In addition, she oversaw product and internal database management. Sasha is fluent in Chinese and French and holds a B.A. in East Asian Studies and English Literature from Wellesley College. She also holds a M.A. in Asian Studies with a focus on China and Southeast Asia from Georgetown University and an M.A. in Secondary Education from the Relay Graduate School of Education.
Daniel Joly-DeMars is a director with extensive experience in public records research and pre-transactional due diligence. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Daniel was head of pre-IPO due diligence at a major compliance firm in the D.C. area, where he oversaw client communication, product development, quality assurance, and researcher training for the firm’s highest value pubic records-based products. Early career highlights include working for an international development consultancy from the firm’s houseboat-office on the Nile and a brief stint as Eva the Otter at Bosse Field, the third-oldest active baseball stadium in the United States. Daniel holds an M.A. in Arab Studies from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Political Science, with a minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, from the University of Notre Dame.
Samantha Strauss has worked as an investigator for over 20 years, specializing in white-collar criminal defense cases, internal investigations, complex civil litigation, and due diligence reviews. Sam is a highly skilled and experienced researcher, providing valuable insights and information to her clients. Previously, she worked at a global private investigations firm, managing large-scale, high-profile litigation matters. Sam holds a B.S. in Administration of Justice from The Pennsylvania State University.
John Sugden is a director with extensive experience managing and conducting public records and pre-transactional due diligence projects. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, John co-founded and headed the Washington, D.C.-based investigations division of a background investigations firm based on the West Coast. He started his career in investigations at a New York-based due diligence and compliance firm where he led client management efforts for the company’s financial industry customers. John holds an M.A. in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University, and a B.A. in History from Virginia Tech.
Bryn Williams is a director with broad experience in open-source research, investigations, and public markets intelligence. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Bryn was a research manager and client liaison at a major compliance firm where he was responsible for project oversight, targeted research engagements, and communication with a wide array of clients which included multinational investment banks, private equity firms, and activist hedge funds. Bryn began his career in strategic political consulting and opposition research. He graduated from Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a B.A. in Political Theory and minors in Muslim Studies and Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy.
Nicholai Babis is a senior associate experienced in pre-transactional due diligence, OSINT investigation, and threat analysis. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Nicholai was a paralegal at a New York law firm, where he worked on domestic and international structured finance transactions, securitizations, and credit facilities. He has also worked at a transatlantic think tank in Germany and on international migration issues with a Berlin-based NGO. He holds a double B.A. in International Studies and German Studies from Vassar College and is currently pursuing an M.A. in International Security Studies from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Michaela Connell is an OSINT and public records expert. At RosettiStarr she focuses on pre-transactional due diligence, litigation support, executive talent investigations. Michaela is a detail-oriented researcher with extensive training and experience identifying relevant legal records, conducting witness and reputational interviews, and structuring investigative reports to meet client demands.
Jake Godfrey is currently on temporary assignment to the U.S. Army.
Jake specializes in domestic and international security operations for RosettiStarr’s corporate clients. Previously, Jake served eight years as a military officer securing U.S. embassies, leading targeting centers, and advising general officers in Djibouti, Kuwait, North Korea, and Afghanistan. Jake holds a M.A. in Forensic and Legal Psychology with a specialization in Intelligence Studies from Marymount University, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from The Citadel. Jake is still an actively drilling military reserve officer with 1st Information Operations (IO) Command.
Gabriela Gomez is an associate with experience in public records research and pre-transactional due diligence. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Gabriela worked at a consulting firm and conducted domestic and international due diligence investigations on individuals and entities as well as worked in the Citizenship by Investment division of the due diligence practice. Early in her career, she worked as a paralegal for a law firm specializing in worker’s compensation and immigration. Gabriela is fluent in Spanish and has spent time studying abroad in Argentina. She holds a B.A. in International Relations with a focus on Latin America from Grand Valley State University.
Alec Haskard, a senior associate, is an analyst, researcher, and writer who brings broad experience to his wide-ranging work with RosettiStarr’s clients. His career spans working in anti-corruption compliance for a large aerospace & defense company, advising institutional investors for the leading proxy advisory firm, and conducting due diligence investigations for a global due diligence provider. He has lived and worked on three continents. Alec has a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Redlands, an M.A. in Korean Studies from Korea University, and M.A. in International Affairs from American University.
Eva Hong is a senior associate at RosettiStarr with extensive experience conducting due diligence research for large corporations and organizations. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Eva was a manager at an international compliance firm based in the Washington, DC area, where she was primarily focused on pre-IPO and M&A due diligence research. She is fluent in Chinese and holds a B.A. in International Studies from American University in Washington, DC, where she graduated cum laude.
Troy Howley is a senior associate, joining RosettiStarr in July 2021. Prior to RosettiStarr, Troy worked as a senior associate in the investigative and due diligence department of a large accounting firm. Earlier, Troy spent five years working with a local nonprofit assisting the resettling of refugees. He holds a B.A. from Saginaw Valley State University, graduating with a History major and Political Science minor and a Master’s from Cornerstone University.
Samantha Margolis is a senior research associate at RosettiStarr who recently graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Modern Languages and Literature (Arabic concentration), along with a minor in History. Samantha is also a near-fluent Hebrew speaker and a recipient of the U.S. State Department Critical Language Scholarship. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Samantha had the opportunity to work for a Non-Governmental Organization in Geneva, Switzerland where she spoke before the United Nations Human Rights Council on various human rights violations occurring in Madagascar.
Alexandria Milton is a senior associate with extensive experience in OSINT, pre-transactional due diligence, and risk management with regional expertise in the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, and Western Europe. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Alexandria gained experience at Washington, DC-area due diligence firms as an investigator and team lead. Earlier, she was a regional risk management lead at a Big 4 accounting firm. She is proficient in Arabic and Spanish and holds a Ph.D. in Egyptian and Argentine Literature and an M.A. in Near and Middle East Studies from SOAS University of London in the United Kingdom, where she graduated with distinction.
John Rodrigues is a senior research associate at RosettiStarr with experience in pre-transaction due diligence and investigations. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, he worked in a big 4 Accounting firm providing business intelligence. John is a JD and formerly licensed attorney with experience in eDiscovery. John has also worked for several years as a paralegal in a New York based litigation firm. He holds a JD from the City University of New York School of Law and B.A. in Political Science from Drew University.
Mary Taylor is a senior associate at RosettiStarr with experience conducting open-source investigations. Prior to joining the company, Mary was a research affiliate at a major UK university where she was primarily focused on uncovering evidence of ongoing DPRK sanctions violations. She also worked as a research assistant for the 2021 Bob Woodward and Robert Costa book, Peril. She holds an M.A. in International Peace and Security from King’s College London and a B.A. in Global Studies from the University of Minnesota.
Clarissa Tekbali is a multilingual research associate at RosettiStarr. Prior to joining the company, Clarissa gained experience at a risk-management consulting firm in the Washington, DC area and also worked in the non-profit and higher education sectors. Clarissa is a native speaker of German and has spent time studying and working abroad in Germany, Italy, and Ecuador. She holds a B.A. in International Affairs with a focus on Europe and a Minor in Spanish from the University of North Georgia, and an M.A. in International Affairs with a focus on Global Governance, Politics, and Security from American University.
Helen Whetstine is a senior research associate at RosettiStarr. She has extensively researched political and economic topics including Latin American political and social movements and the commodification of Indigenous knowledge. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Helen worked in the higher education sector, where she managed corporate sponsorships and external outreach for new student orientation programming. She is proficient in Spanish and holds a B.S.F.S. in Culture & Politics with a minor in Economics from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where she graduated cum laude.
Jana Wong focuses on security and intelligence matters for RosettiStarr. In addition to conducting diligent public records research, she identifies and studies emerging security threats, and provides technical support to clients on secure communications platforms. Jana holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from San Francisco State University as well as a master’s degree in terrorism and homeland security policy from American University. Prior to joining RosettiStarr, Jana was a regional analyst intern with the US government, specializing in the Middle East and North African region.
John Bedard is an associate at RosettiStarr with experience in open-source intelligence-related research. He has worked as a nuclear policy researcher at a Washington, D.C.-based think tank and as a public affairs specialist at the State Department. John graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Journalism and International Relations and with specialized investigative training.
Elsa Bollmeier is an associate at RosettiStarr with experience in government contracting and consulting as well as non-profit donor analysis. She is proficient in Spanish and graduated from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service with a B.S. in Global Business and a minor in Art History.
Jazmin Brabson-Askew is an associate at RosettiStarr with experience researching international business issues. She previously worked at the Department of Commerce Commercial Service helping firms conduct due diligence to expand in Latin America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Jazmin received an M.A. from American University in Foreign Policy and National Security, with a concentration on economic relations in emerging markets; her undergraduate degree was from the University of Virginia, where she majored in Foreign Affairs and Spanish.
Max Dunat is an associate at RosettiStarr with experience researching international business operations. Before joining the firm, he worked at an intelligence-related contracting firm and wrote articles for a policy magazine. Max graduated from Georgetown University’ School of Foreign Service with a B.S.F.S. in International Politics, with a major in International Security and a minor in Russian.
Connor Jones is a research associate at RosettiStarr with prior experience as a strategy consultant for nonprofit organizations in the Washington, D.C. area. Connor graduated cum laude from Georgetown University with a degree in Economics and Government.
Malachy McLaughlin is a research associate at RosettiStarr with deep knowledge of international affairs. He previously worked at a DC-think tank that focused on information technology and global data flows. He is proficient in French and graduated from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University with a B.S.F.S. in International Politics, with a concentration in Security Studies.
Emily Williams is an associate at RosettiStarr with experience in news reporting and national investigations related to sports and other topics. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in Multiplatform Journalism with a minor in French Studies.
Daniel A. Acosta Rivas is experienced at due diligence research and open-source investigations that inform strategic decision-making. He previously worked as a competitive intelligence analyst for a philanthropic organization and was the co-founder and CEO of Students for Free Expression, a nonprofit organization. A Venezuelan native, Daniel holds a B.A. in Economics from the College of Arts and Sciences at American University, and a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Communications from the School of Public Service there.
Megan Darby is experienced in research, analysis, and psychological investigations. She graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Psychology and International Studies, where her principal concentration was in international security, norms, and cooperation and her minor concentration was in French.
Cormac O’Harrow has substantial expertise in cybersecurity and technology policy. He previously ran an international review publication at the University of Wisconsin, from which he obtained degrees in Economics and International Studies with a concentration on Security and Diplomacy.
Maddy Peek is experienced in public records analysis and investigations. She previously worked for Dateline NBC on broadcast and published investigations of law enforcement practices and of the media's handling of incidents of racial terror. Maddy graduated from the University of Maryland with dual degrees in Journalism and Criminology & Criminal Justice.
Camila Santibáñez has substantial experience in due diligence and open-source investigations. She previously worked at a private intelligence firm. A native Spanish speaker, she is particularly skilled at due diligence in Latin America. Camila received her MIA from Columbia University’s School of Public and International Affairs, with a concentration in International Security Policy.
