Rippling Demands Revolut Disclose Payments to Deel 'Spy'

Revolut Involved in Rippling vs. Deel Legal Battle

A significant development has emerged in the ongoing legal dispute between Rippling and Deel with the inclusion of U.K.-based financial technology company, Revolut.

Allegations of Espionage

Keith O’Brien, a Rippling employee based in Ireland, has submitted a detailed affidavit alleging that Deel engaged him in espionage activities. He claims to have received approximately $6,000 monthly from Deel for monitoring Rippling’s operations.

O’Brien asserts that the initial $6,000 payment was transferred to his Revolut account in November 2024 by Alba Basha Westgarth, who is the wife of Dan Westgarth, Deel’s Chief Operating Officer.

Background of Alba Basha Westgarth

Prior to this, Alba Basha Westgarth held a position as the crypto compliance lead at Robinhood, as indicated by her now-deleted LinkedIn profile. Robinhood confirmed her departure earlier this year, but refrained from providing a specific reason.

Her LinkedIn profile previously listed Dubai as her location. This is notable as Dubai is currently the location of Deel’s CEO and legal director, as Rippling attempts to serve them with legal documents. The UAE is known for its complex extradition policies.

Rippling's Legal Action Against Revolut

Rippling has initiated legal proceedings against Revolut, seeking the complete name and address associated with the “Alba Basha” sender on the $6,000 transaction receipt. Court documents reveal that Rippling is also requesting all documentation related to the account opening, including identification and proof of address, to verify her identity conclusively.

Revolut's Response

In response to the lawsuit, Revolut has retained a leading legal counsel in Ireland. The company also sent a communication to Rippling last week, which was described by Rippling’s legal team as “helpful but complicated” during a court session.

It is important to note that there is currently no indication or accusation of any wrongdoing on the part of Revolut. Due to stringent privacy regulations within the E.U., providing such information is not straightforward, particularly in a civil case. A crucial point is the absence of a direct order from the Irish court instructing Revolut to release the requested data.

Revolut stated to TechCrunch that it consistently adheres to valid court orders regarding information disclosure.

Potential Outcomes

The extent to which Revolut will disclose further details regarding the “Alba Basha” behind the transfer remains uncertain. Alternatively, obtaining consent from the individual, as permitted under European privacy laws, appears improbable in this situation.

Deel, which has publicly denied any misconduct, did not respond to requests for comment. Neither Dan Westgarth nor Alba Basha Westgarth provided a response. Rippling also declined to offer a statement.

Court's Indication

The Irish High Court has signaled a potential willingness to support Rippling’s efforts to verify Alba Basha’s identity.

During a court hearing on April 2, after Rippling’s counsel presented evidence linking Alba Basha to Dan Westgarth, including a shared Facebook photograph, Judge Mark Sanfey commented that while it “could be a coincidence, but it’s unlikely!”

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