Affidavit Details Alleged Information Sharing Between Former Rippling Employee and Deel

Last month, HR software company Rippling made headlines when its CEO publicly accused rival Deel of corporate espionage, sparking a high-profile legal dispute that has since gained widespread attention across the tech and accounting industry. At the center of the lawsuit is Keith O’Brien, a former Rippling employee based in Dublin, who allegedly shared confidential internal information with Deel over several months.

A newly released affidavit has added further detail to the ongoing legal dispute. The document, submitted on April 1st by O’Brien, outlines a period of alleged information sharing with representatives of Deel over several months.

The affidavit, now publicly available, was introduced as part of Rippling’s legal action against Deel. In its complaint, Rippling alleges that Deel received access to confidential materials, including customer data and internal strategy documents, through communications facilitated by O’Brien.

Summary of allegations

According to Rippling, O’Brien conducted more than 6,000 internal searches through Slack and other company systems while employed by Rippling. The company asserts that this information was shared with Deel, which compensated O’Brien in both fiat and cryptocurrency. 

To confirm its suspicions, Rippling says it created a Slack channel that would only be visible internally. O’Brien accessed this channel shortly after its creation, which Rippling interprets as evidence that he was actively monitoring internal systems on behalf of an external party. 

The company also claims that O’Brien reset and physically damaged his mobile device after being served a court order to surrender it, a detail included in the affidavit. The court filing does not, however, include direct evidence of Deel's involvement beyond the employee's alleged communications. 

Deel’s response and broader context 

Deel has denied the allegations in full. In statements to the media, the company emphasized that it has not engaged in any wrongdoing and is cooperating with the legal process. As reported by TechCrunch, Deel contends that Rippling’s lawsuit is an attempt to distract from competitive pressures in the HR software space. 

The legal action reflects the growing tension among leading workforce technology companies. Both Rippling and Deel provide software platforms that manage payroll, HR, benefits, and compliance—critical tools for small and mid-sized businesses, including those supported by client accounting services (CAS) professionals. 

Why this matters to CAS professionals 

While the details of this case are still unfolding, this case serves as a reminder of the importance of secure data governance, especially when working with cloud-based HR and financial technology providers. CAS professionals who recommend or manage third-party systems for their clients should be attentive to the reputational and operational risks associated with software vendors involved in legal disputes. 

In today’s environment, where client trust is paramount, firms must ensure that the software they recommend or manage meets the highest standards of data security and ethical conduct. Whether or not Deel is found culpable, this case serves as a timely reminder of the due diligence required in vendor selection. 

Key takeaways and looking ahead 

The resolution of this legal battle could have a ripple effect across the tech industry, prompting software buyers and CAS professionals alike to reevaluate how they assess risk, security, and compliance. As the case progresses, it will likely shed light on broader issues around insider threats, competitive intelligence, and the legal safeguards necessary to protect sensitive data. 

Firms would be wise to monitor this situation closely—not only for its direct implications but also for the precedents it may set in vendor accountability and the expectations of due diligence in technology partnerships.