Our team is our
most critical asset
Russell and Esther began working in Business Intelligence together in 2005 and after accruing experience in a number of different businesses and situations. They founded Fulcrum Diligence in 2016 as the realisation of their respective experiences and sharing a belief that their business should break from the norm in the sector by digging deeper into, and being firmly grounded in objective facts complemented by market leading analysis.
Our team is our most critical asset. Our success depends not just on research gathering and analytical capabilities but also trust, contextual understanding and the ability to navigate complex, sensitive information and present it in a clear, objective manner. That’s why investing in in-house training and staff retention is particularly vital. We pride ourselves on recruiting great people who can rise through the ranks and share their institutional memory in the continuously-evolving cycle of mentoring.
Russell Corn OBE
Founder and Chief Executive
Russell read History at Cambridge University and then served for 14 years with the Royal Marines. His first step into industry took him to Prudential Plc where he was responsible for buying business intelligence reports.
Largely underwhelmed by the quality of available reporting, he then joined Diligence Inc, aggressively growing the practice.
Next came a move to Fulcrum Chambers LLP, an innovative law firm founded by highly respected barristers specialising in white-collar crime. Russell’s role here was to assess the adequacy of due diligence systems and reports, while handling investigations into highly sensitive situations.
Seeing the demand for specialist, objective and timely professional intelligence – unavailable from either algorithm based providers or “corporate intelligence” companies – Russell founded Fulcrum Diligence as an independent provider of these services.
Russell is a keen if aging athlete having recently completed the Norseman and Patagonman Xtreme series triathlons, he acts as Chairman for a military charity and loves live music.
Esther Dowling
Founder and Chief Operating Officer
After graduating in Modern Languages and Business Studies from Swansea University, Esther began a research career that now spans more than two decades.
In 1998, she became Head of Research at fraud investigation specialist Maxima Group where she supported large-scale, cross-border fraud investigations, mainly focused on Latin America.
In 2000 she was one of the founding members of Diligence International LLC where she spent a number of years as Research Director, also taking responsibility for HR, training and strategic development.
In 2016 she joined forces with Russell, bringing her knowledge of international corporate research and investigations to launch Fulcrum Diligence.
Our team is made up of diverse, driven, highly intelligent, open-minded and interesting people from all backgrounds and all manner of life experience.
Raphaele Freire Limas
Senior Consultant
Raphaele has been with Fulcrum Diligence since 2021, where she now serves as a Senior Consultant specialising in Latin America and Brazil.
She is based in Fulcrum’s São Paulo office and brings over five years of experience in due diligence and risk analysis, including a role at Blue Umbrella’s Brazil office, part of the global compliance firm headquartered in Hong Kong.
Raphaele’s international perspective is shaped by time living in Colombia and the UK. She holds a degree in Journalism from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo and a Master’s in Publishing from Oxford Brookes University.
A fluent speaker of Portuguese, English, and Spanish, she is currently expanding her linguistic skills with French and Mandarin. Outside work, she enjoys travelling and is dedicated to fitness.
Mike Kang
Senior Manager
Mike has been with Fulcrum Diligence since 2018, starting as an Analyst and now serving as a Senior Manager.
He brings extensive experience delivering tailored intelligence and risk mitigation solutions across a wide spectrum of services, including fraud investigations, litigation support, market entry research, pre-transaction due diligence, and compliance enhancements.
His work spans both public and private sector clients and includes advisory on sanctions-related matters across diverse jurisdictions.
Mike also has in-house experience, having completed a secondment within a corporate compliance team. He holds an MA in International Political Economy from King’s College London.
Chloe Hodson
Senior Manager
Since joining Fulcrum Diligence in 2020 as a Junior Analyst, Chloe has grown into her current role as Senior Manager, where she oversees complex research projects spanning multiple jurisdictions and industries.
Over the years, she has led hundreds of open-source investigations, from standard due diligence to grey market probes, litigation support, and market entry research.
Chloe also plays a key role in delivering internal and ad-hoc compliance support to clients via Fulcrum’s ‘FD Assist’ service.
Chloe holds a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Nottingham, with a focus on environmental politics and political risk.
In 2022, she was awarded a distinction in the University of Cambridge’s ‘Towards Net Zero Emissions’ course, deepening her knowledge of climate change risk and sustainable business strategy.
Layla Kubba
Senior Manager
Layla has been a key member of the team since its inception. As the firm’s in-house Arabic specialist, she brings a unique legal perspective and deep regional knowledge of the Middle East to her work, focusing on compliance risks in emerging markets.
Layla has assisted a diverse client base – from individuals to multinational corporations – on internal and external investigations, regulatory matters, and corporate compliance programs. Her expertise spans white-collar defence, sanctions breaches, and anti-corruption frameworks.
Prior to joining FD, Layla built significant experience in cross-border investigations, fraud, anti-bribery and corruption, and complex litigation support. She has worked on high-profile matters involving global regulatory bodies, including the SFO, DOJ, and FCA.
Layla holds an LLB and completed the Bar Training Course, being called to the Bar in 2015. She is fluent in both Arabic and English, and has an intermediate proficiency in Persian.
Outside of work, Layla enjoys baking, Pilates, and volunteering at her local Arabic school, where she teaches Arabic to children.
James Eastland
Consultant
James joined Fulcrum Diligence in 2023, starting in the London office before relocating to Bristol in 2024 to help launch and grow the firm’s new presence in the city.
Now a Consultant, he brings a blend of analytical insight and industry knowledge shaped by his earlier experience as a Funding Manager at BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions.
James studied Russian and History at UCL’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), which sparked a lasting interest in Russia and the CIS region.
He also keeps a close eye on emerging developments in crypto, AI and the ever-evolving landscape of OSINT tools.
James Devey
Senior Analyst
Since joining Fulcrum as an intern in 2023, James has become a key part of the team, now working as a Senior Analyst.
His work spans a broad range of complex investigations, particularly within the oil and gas, biotech, and political spheres across the CIS, Middle East, and the US.
James has also contributed significantly to the delivery of FD Assist, producing and developing a client’s background check product. He holds an MA in US Politics and History from University College London, and a BA in History from Durham University.
Outside of work, you’ll find James in the kitchen, with a book, or playing and watching rugby.
In-house training and staff retention is an essential part of our DNA: it enables us to consistently deliver high-quality intelligence, safeguard reputational integrity and provide a long-term competitive edge built on trust, precision and expertise.
Yasmine Zahrane
Consultant
Yasmine joined Fulcrum Diligence in October 2022 as a Due Diligence Analyst and has since advanced to Consultant.
She has led and contributed to a diverse portfolio of OSINT and enhanced due diligence projects, with a strong regional focus on the MENA region, French-speaking countries, and Italy.
Yasmine brings a particular commitment to investigative work, having played a key role in complex cases related to organised crime and counter-terrorism financing.
Despite growing up in Italy, Yasmine completed her university education in the UK. She holds a BA in Sociology and International Relations from Kingston University and a Master’s in Intelligence and International Security from King’s College London,
bringing both analytical depth and international perspective to her work. Yasmine is bilingual, being a native speaker of Italian and Moroccan Arabic (known as Darija), fluent in Arabic, English, and French, and proficient in Spanish.
Outside of work, Yasmine enjoys staying active, exploring new places, and continuing to develop her passion for languages.
Eve Williets
Analyst
Eve became part of Fulcrum Diligence in 2024 as an Analyst, joining the firm’s growing Bristol team. Her academic foundation lies in Liberal Arts, graduating from the University of Nottingham with a BA that blended mathematics and the humanities,
an interdisciplinary approach that sharpened her skills in data interpretation and critical analysis. Alongside her investigative work, Eve collaborates with Fulcrum’s marketing team to support its digital presence.
Beyond work, she maintains her creative interests through an active role in a local arts club, building on her long-standing involvement in theatre during university.
William Gordon
Analyst
William joined Fulcrum Diligence as an Analyst in July 2024 after completing his BA in Modern Foreign Languages & Cultures (German and Italian) at the University of Durham.
Since then, he’s contributed to a wide range of reports, covering M&A, country risk, asset tracing, and media analysis.
Fulcrum’s global scope and support for individual specialisms have enabled William to apply and advance his language skills while deepening his understanding of international political and economic landscapes.
Outside the office,
he’s a keen follower and player of football, cricket, and darts.
Joseph Hill
Senior Analyst
Joseph became part of Fulcrum Diligence in 2024, bringing with him a background in education, having previously taught History and Politics at Bryanston School in Dorset.
A graduate of the University of Cambridge, he earned a BA in Human, Social and Political Sciences, focusing on Middle Eastern politics and US foreign policy.
Alongside his analytical work at Fulcrum, Joseph is pursuing Arabic studies at King’s College London. He’s also an avid sportsman, regularly playing football and cricket in his spare time.
Maddie Minall
Analyst
Maddie joined Fulcrum Diligence in October 2024 and quickly began contributing to projects involving enhanced due diligence and market research in challenging jurisdictions such as Venezuela, Iran, and Lebanon.
She has a keen interest in navigating complex geopolitical landscapes, and her work is marked by accuracy and attention to detail in OSINT-driven research. Maddie is also interested in art market compliance and due diligence.
Maddie holds a Masters in Art Gallery and Museum Studies, with distinction, from the University of Leeds, where she also completed her BA in History.
During her postgraduate studies, she volunteered as an independent researcher on projects relating to local history and culture for Leeds City Council, enriching her analytical and research capabilities.
Outside of work, Maddie enjoys exploring the city and visiting London’s many galleries, museums and parks.
Kieran O’Donnell
Analyst
Kieran brings a strong foundation in financial risk and compliance to his role at Fulcrum Diligence, which he joined in 2024.
His previous experience in the financial services sector sparked a professional interest in tackling organised crime, an area he’s continued to explore through complex, cross-border investigations since arriving at Fulcrum.
Kieran studied Economics and History at the University of Leeds, a combination that lends both analytical depth and contextual awareness to his work.
In his free time, he’s an avid cyclist and recently completed the Wild Atlantic Way along Ireland’s rugged west coast.
Megan Allen
Analyst
Megan joined Fulcrum Diligence in March 2023, where she contributed to a variety of projects, developing her skills in open-source and signals intelligence.
Alongside her civilian career, Megan serves as an officer in the Army Reserve and was recently called to active service, temporarily stepping away from her role at Fulcrum.
Before joining the company, she was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as the youngest serving female officer in the British Army at the time, with deployments to Germany and Canada.
Megan holds a BA in English Literature and Drama from the University of Exeter, where she also attained advanced proficiency in Arabic. She reads and writes Arabic to a high standard, further enhancing her analytical work in complex regions.
Jonas Mendoza
Analyst
Based in Fulcrum’s Bristol office, Jonas joined the team in September 2024 after earning his LLB in Law from the University of Surrey.
His academic background includes a strong focus on White-Collar Crime, Tax Law, and International Law, all of which inform his analytical work at Fulcrum.
Before making the move into due diligence, Jonas worked in real estate sales with Ayala Land Corporation, experience that adds valuable perspective when it comes to client engagement and communication.
Passionate about corporate law, Jonas continues to apply his legal knowledge to every project he tackles.
Arefeh Zadeh
Financial Controller
Arefeh joined the company in 2016, prior to this having worked in banking, media and legal sectors, as well as private client work.
Arefeh holds a BSc Hons in Biochemistry from University College London (UCL) and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).