Deel has intensified its legal dispute with rival HR tech firm Rippling by formally requesting an Irish court to compel Rippling to hand over certain confidential documents.
In a recent filing highlighted in a series of publicly released letters, Deel is seeking full, unredacted copies of specific agreements between Rippling and Keith O’Brien, a former employee involved in the dispute. O’Brien drew attention earlier after admitting, in an affidavit disclosed in court proceedings, that he had engaged in espionage activities on Deel’s behalf.
The conflict began in March when Rippling initiated legal action against Deel, accusing the company of theft of trade secrets, tortious interference, unfair competition, and various other violations, primarily centering on claims that Deel had spied on Rippling.
Deel swiftly responded with a countersuit, vigorously contesting Rippling’s accusations, questioning the jurisdiction of the case, and launching its own charges of espionage against Rippling. With the newest development, Deel’s representatives spotlight testimony from Vanessa Wu, Rippling’s former general counsel. Beyond recalling certain espionage episodes, Wu’s affidavit disclosed details regarding Rippling’s termination of Keith O’Brien and subsequent agreements reached with him.
Specifically, Wu confirmed that O’Brien, after being fired by Rippling, was offered compensation in return for agreeing not to sue the company. Additionally, it was noted that Rippling had entered into another agreement with O’Brien, promising to partially fund his litigation costs and reimburse his legal and out-of-pocket expenses linked to his cooperation in the legal proceedings.
Deel’s current motion requests the court to mandate Rippling to release these agreements in their entirety. Deel’s strategy appears focused on emphasizing the unusual arrangement in which a former employee, terminated under contentious circumstances, could find himself once again receiving funds from his previous employer in exchange for cooperation and testimony favorable to its case.
Both companies adamantly deny wrongdoing, each accusing the other of misconduct in an escalating legal war that has captured headlines within the tech community. A decision from the court on Deel’s latest request could shed more light on these secretive negotiations and further set the tone for the ongoing battle.
