People Centre, INC [D/B/A Rippling] and Anor v O'Brien and Ors [No. 1] (Approved)

                  These proceedings were commenced by the plaintiffs on 12 March 2025. At that point, the first named defendant (Mr O'Brien') was the only defendant. Where convenient, I propose to refer to the plaintiffs collectively as 'Rippling', the first named defendant as 'Mr O'Brien', the second to fifth defendants collectively as 'the Deel defendants', and the second, third and fifth named defendants as 'the individual Deel defendants', or 'the applicants'. 

                  The fourth defendant ('Deel') has accepted the jurisdiction of the court. However, the individual Deel defendants - 'Mr Bouaziz', 'Mr Mieli' and 'Mr Malik' respectively - object to their joinder to the proceedings on grounds which I shall set out in detail. 

                  In addition, Mr Bouaziz and Mr Mieli seek orders pursuant O.12, r.26 of the Rules of the Superior Courts ('RSC') and/or the court's inherent jurisdiction setting aside service on them of notices of concurrent amended plenary summons and dismissing or striking out the claims made against them by Rippling for want of jurisdiction on the part of the Irish courts pursuant to the Brussels Regulation (Recast) ('BRR'), Regulation (EU) number 1215/2012. 

                  Mr Malik also seeks an order pursuant to O.12, r.26 of the RSC and/or the court's inherent jurisdiction in respect of the service on him of a notice of concurrent amended plenary summons outside of the jurisdiction pursuant to O.11, r.1(f) and (h) RSC. 

                  The applications were heard as a single motion along with two motions brought by Deel which are the subject of separate judgments. All matters were heard by the court on 2-5 December 2025.