The HR technology multinational Deel has offered a US court explanations for payments to an Irish employee of its rival Rippling, which is alleging corporate espionage took place in Dublin.
In the clash between two US HR giants over corporate espionage claims, the High Court rules that individual Deel employees will not be joined to Rippling’s case.
Subpoenas seek information on allegations that Deel, valued at around $17 billion, recruited a spy inside a rival company, writes Rolfe Winkler, The Wall Street Journal.
While Deel accepts being joined to the case itself, its CEO says there are no grounds to join him to the proceedings against alleged spy Keith O'Brien.
Newly unsealed US court documents from Revolut show a payment to Rippling employee Keith O’Brien from the wife of rival US HR giant Deel’s COO.
The judge accepted that Hayes behaved with integrity and acted as one would expect of an officer of the court.
While self-avowed spy Keith O'Brien's case against a "campaign of surveillance, harassment and intimidation" continues, the judge expressed "severe concerns" over a "misleading" letter from Hayes solicitors on behalf of Deel.
Former Rippling employee Keith O'Brien went to court today to stop an alleged “campaign of surveillance, harassment and intimidation”.
New details presented in court shows Deel hired a private investigator who in turn engaged another party to surveil Keith O’Brien; the company denies any intimidation, while legal anonymity has been temporarily granted to the alleged surveillors.
HR software firm Deel has filed its defence in Dublin against a "spy" case being taken against it by rival Rippling. It also says it stands by its own counter lawsuit.
© 2026 Currency Media Limited
