HR tech giant Deel has officially accepted service of legal documents in its ongoing lawsuit with rival Rippling in Ireland, ending weeks of uncertainty. This development follows Rippling’s attempts to serve Deel executives, which were complicated by their inability to locate them. Deel CEO Alex Bouaziz, along with lawyers Asif Malik and Andrea David Mieli, agreed to accept service through Deel’s Irish law firm, as confirmed by the company to TechCrunch.
Rippling had previously filed an affidavit detailing its unsuccessful efforts to serve Bouaziz and his team, which included attempts in France and Italy. The affidavit noted that French bailiffs had tried to serve Bouaziz at a Paris address but were informed by a relative that he was in Dubai. Reports emerged that Bouaziz was in Dubai around April 15, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Passover, though Deel later stated he resides in Israel.
Deel has strongly refuted claims that its executives were evading service, characterizing such narratives as smear tactics. A spokesperson emphasized that Malik’s relocation to Dubai had been planned for over a year and that David Mieli was working from home in Italy and available for service.
The legal battle centers on Rippling’s allegations that Deel bribed one of its employees, Keith O’Brien, to gather intelligence on its internal operations. O’Brien has testified to these claims in a lengthy affidavit. In response to Rippling’s allegations, Deel filed a countersuit in the U.S. last week, making various accusations against Rippling, including claims that they had cultivated an insider within Deel.
Rippling CEO Parker Conrad responded publicly on X, stating that Deel has not disputed the core allegation that Bouaziz personally recruited a spy to steal trade secrets. As the lawsuit progresses, both companies are preparing for a contentious legal battle. Rippling did not respond to requests for comment regarding the latest developments.
