Deel, a prominent HR technology firm, has confirmed it will accept legal documents in its ongoing lawsuit against competitor Rippling in Ireland, resolving weeks of uncertainty after attempts to serve its executives failed. Notably, Deel’s CEO, Alex Bouaziz, and key legal representatives were located in Dubai, complicating the service process.
Today, Deel announced through a spokesperson that Bouaziz, along with lawyers Asif Malik and Andrea David Mieli, agreed to accept legal service via Deel’s Irish law firm. This comes after Deel’s U.S. entity had already been served back on April 16, as indicated by an affidavit filed by Rippling in a Dublin court.
Rippling has faced difficulties in serving the legal documents, citing failed attempts in France and Italy, including an instance where bailiffs attempted to reach Bouaziz at a Paris address. They were informed that he was actually in Dubai. While Deel acknowledged Bouaziz was indeed celebrating Passover in Dubai, the company later stated that he resides in Israel.
Deel strongly dismissed claims that its executives were evading service, asserting that these accusations were a form of public smear tactics. The company refuted suggestions of misconduct around the service of documents, asserting that all involved parties were not trying to avoid legal notifications.
In their response, Deel pointed out that Malik’s Dubai trip had been prearranged prior to the lawsuit, and Mieli, who Rippling claimed was untraceable in Italy, is currently working from home and is accessible.
The legal dispute stems from Rippling’s accusations that Deel allegedly bribed its employee, Keith O’Brien, to gather internal information stealthily. O’Brien has reportedly corroborated these claims in a detailed affidavit. In reaction to Rippling’s allegations, Deel has recently countered with its own lawsuit in the U.S., making accusations against Rippling, including claims that they have infiltrated Deel’s operations with their own insider.
Rippling’s CEO, Parker Conrad, has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to assert that Deel has not contested the core accusation of hiring a spy to steal trade secrets. As of now, Rippling has not issued a statement in response to Deel’s latest developments.
This legal battle represents a significant moment for both companies in the competitive HR technology landscape, as it has implications not only for their reputations but also for their operational integrity amid ongoing scrutiny.
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