Deel Accepts Legal Documents in Court Battle with Rippling
HR tech giant Deel has formally accepted to be served legal documents in its ongoing court battle with rival Rippling in Ireland. This development comes after weeks of suspense when Rippling’s bailiffs couldn’t locate Deel’s executives for service, leading to Deel’s CEO and top lawyer turning up in Dubai.
Deel CEO Alex Bouaziz, along with Deel lawyers Asif Malik and Andrea David Mieli, have agreed to accept service through Deel’s Irish law firm, as confirmed by Deel to JS. Rippling filed an affidavit in Irish court this morning, indicating that Deel Inc., Deel’s U.S. entity, was served on April 16.
“Today in court in Dublin Hayes Solicitors agreed to accept service on behalf of all four parties,” a Deel spokesperson informed JS.
Rippling stated in the affidavit that they had made unsuccessful attempts to serve Bouaziz, Malik, and Mieli in France and Italy. Despite hiring French bailiffs to serve Bouaziz in Paris on April 10, they only found a relative who revealed Bouaziz was in Dubai.
Deel had previously not responded to requests for comment when Bouaziz was reported to be in Dubai, later clarifying that he resides in Israel and was in Dubai briefly for Passover celebrations.
Deel declined to disclose Bouaziz’s current location citing privacy reasons, refuting allegations of avoidance of service by its executives and dismissing it as a smear tactic by Rippling.
Regarding Malik’s relocation to Dubai, Deel stated it was planned well before the lawsuit. Additionally, Mieli, who Rippling claimed they couldn’t serve in Italy, works from home in Italy and was available for service.
The lawsuit revolves around Rippling’s accusations that Deel bribed one of its employees in Ireland, Keith O’Brien, to spy on Rippling’s internal affairs. O’Brien testified to spying in an affidavit.
Deel has recently filed a countersuit in the U.S. against Rippling, alleging various misconduct, including Rippling having its own insider within Deel.
In response, Rippling CEO Parker Conrad took to X to assert, “Nowhere does Deel dispute our central allegation — that @Bouazizalex personally recruited a spy to steal Rippling’s trade secrets, and personally directed the theft.”
Rippling did not provide a comment on the matter.
