Simmons & Simmons has issued an apology after one of its lawyers was heard accusing the other side of "obviously lying" during a live court case via Zoom.

The unintentional broadcast demonstrates one of numerous difficulties with virtual trials which have become commonplace in the U.K. during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Simmons lawyer was heard describing PCP Capital Partners' Amanda Staveley as "obviously lying"  and that she was "crashing and burning" on a private Zoom call which was accidentally broadcast into the court feed.

The comments came at the end of Staveley's first day of testimony last week in a trial centering around private equity firm PCP Capital Partners on its dispute with Barclays regarding a $3bn capital-raising exercise by the bank at the height of the 2008 financial crisis.

The firm's London senior partner Colin Passmore issued a letter of apology which was read out by the judge on Friday. Simmons & Simmons is acting for Barclays with a team led by Passmore.

In a separate statement, a Simmons & Simmons spokesperson said: "Comments were made by a member of the Simmons legal team on a private Zoom call, which was overheard in the courtroom after the day's session had adjourned.

"This should not have happened and is very regrettable. We apologise to Ms Staveley and to the court."

The trial, which began virtually on June 8, expected to continue for nine weeks, a person close to the situation said.

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