The information that O’Brien provided to Deel included what he called “a lot of Rippling confidential information” through screenshots and screen recordings, including a “battle card” for Rippling salespeople to use to attempt to convert customers to their company. O’Brien also sent profiles and contact information for Rippling employees who were “superstars.” Rippling said this is what tipped off company leaders to the possibility of a spy, because Deel tried to hire at least 17 members of its global payroll operations team through WhatsApp.

Related: Are you being watched? The hidden costs of employee surveillance

The arrangement was exposed in February after Deel accidentally forwarded some of the leaked documents to a tech journalist, who alerted Rippling. In March, Rippling alleged racketeering, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference, unfair competition and aiding and abetting a breach of fiduciary duty in a lawsuit filed against Deel. The legal action also targets Bouaziz and his father Philippe, who is Deel’s chairman and CFO.

“The evidence in this case is undeniable,” Rippling attorney Alex Spiro said in a statement. “The highest levels of Deel’s leadership are implicated in a brazen corporate espionage scheme, and they will be held accountable.”

Details of the case resemble a spy novel, with Rippling alleging that O’Brien used encrypted texting apps with self-deleting messages and an escape plan to evade arrest before being exposed. “They suggested flying my family and me to Dubai that night, saying ‘we all need a holiday,’” O’Brien wrote. “I understood they were suggesting that my family and I flee Ireland permanently and that Deel would put me up in Dubai.” 

Rippling and Deel both provide workplace management software and are valued at more than $12 billion. 

Parker Conrad, CEO of Rippling, was caught on the other side of a scandal years ago with former company, Zenefits. Conrad "cheated the system by allowing his employees to bypass licensure requirements, was at the helm as investors lost revenue confidence, promoted a "frat house" ethos in the office, and sold $10 million in stock prior to his mandated resignation". Rippling is aiming for a more stable and less controversial growth trajectory compared to Zenefits.