INVESTIGATION TEAM
Investigation Team Credentials and Background
doTERRA commissioned Sidley Austin LLP (“Sidley Austin”) to conduct the investigation into the allegations reported by Rachel Fobar that Anjanette DeCarlo, a former consultant for dōTERRA, was raped by Barkhad Hassan, the owner of dōTERRA’s supplier in Somaliland, Asli Maydi Exports Limited when she was working for dōTERRAin November 2018, a second allegation of rape of a woman by other individuals working for, or connected with, Asli Maydi and that pay and working conditions at Asli Maydi were poor (the “Investigation”).
Sidley Austin is a global law firm with a crisis management team that is highly experienced in conducting investigations involving employment-related allegations. Their London-based crisis management team handled this independent investigation.
The Investigation was led by Sara George, a partner of Sidley Austin, and an English criminal barrister with extensive previous experience in prosecuting and defending sex offences. Sara is Sidley Austin’s lead lawyer in Europe for crisis management and strategic response. Sara received an M.A. in Oriental Studies from the University of Oxford, a Graduate Diploma in Law from City University, London, and completed the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law. Sara has received acknowledgment from numerous industry ranking guides in respect of her investigation work, including, most recently, being ranked Band 1 in Chambers Crisis & Risk Management Guide 2023, a ‘Leading Individual’ in Legal 500 UK 2024, and recognised in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 2024 list for her experience in international criminal and human rights investigations, and experience pioneering “corporate investigations in countries with no history of it”.
The Investigation was assisted by a team of English-qualified lawyers based in Sidley Austin’s London office. The investigation was also assisted by:
Safia Jama MBE, who assisted with conducting interviews with Asli Maydi employees. Safia is trained and experienced in recording incidents of gender-based violence and exploitation. Safa is a senior and highly respected figure within the Somaliland diaspora in the UK and is consulted by Government on policy and security. She is the founder and CEO of the Women’s Inclusive Team, a British charity that exists to support women and their families who are from a Black and Minority Ethnic background. Safia was awarded an MBE for services to the Somaliland community in the UK.
Sahra Mire also assisted with conducting interviews as a translator. Sahra is trained and experienced in recording incidents of gender-based violence and exploitation.
A Somaliland-based, gender-based violence expert who was instructed by the Investigation to carry out the interviews in person (“Investigator G”). Investigator G has extensive experience in counselling sexual and gender-based violence victims, and has worked with various women empowerment and women’s rights organisations. Investigator G has contributed to community awareness-raising campaigns in the Horn of Africa.