Deel Accepts Legal Service in Rippling Spy Lawsuit Amid Court Battle

Deel, a leading HR technology company, has formally accepted legal service in Ireland related to its ongoing court battle with rival Rippling. This acceptance ends weeks of uncertainty after Rippling’s attempts to serve Deel’s executives were unsuccessful, as the executives were reportedly unavailable in Europe and later found in Dubai.

Deel’s CEO Alex Bouaziz, along with lawyers Asif Malik and Andrea David Mieli, agreed to accept service through Deel’s Irish law firm. Rippling had previously served Deel’s U.S. entity on April 16, but struggled to serve the individuals involved, including attempts in France and Italy.

Rippling alleges that Deel bribed one of its employees in Ireland, Keith O’Brien, to spy on Rippling’s internal affairs. O’Brien has testified in a detailed affidavit confirming his spying activities. In response, Deel has denied any evasion of service and criticized Rippling’s narrative as a public smear tactic.

Deel has also filed a countersuit in the U.S., accusing Rippling of cultivating its own insider within Deel. Rippling’s CEO Parker Conrad publicly reiterated the core allegation that Deel’s CEO personally recruited a spy to steal trade secrets.

This legal confrontation highlights the intense competition and high stakes in the HR technology sector, where proprietary data and internal operations are fiercely guarded. The case underscores the importance of legal preparedness and strategic risk management for tech companies operating in competitive markets.

For industry leaders, this dispute serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of corporate espionage and the necessity of robust internal controls. It also emphasizes the role of international legal frameworks in resolving cross-border technology disputes.