The architecture practice at the centre of the Grenfell Tower tragedy cannot afford legal representation for the public inquiry and has had to make “difficult decisions” about how to engage with the process, the resumed hearings have been told.

On the first day of the Grenfell Inquiry’s second phase investigations, panel chair Michael Moore-Bick was told that Studio E was keen to engage with the process but did not have the resources to hire a full team of lawyers or even study all of the inquiry documents.

Giving an opening statement on behalf of the practice yesterday, barrister Prashant Popat said his 30-minute appearance would be the only time the firm had legal representation in the hearings.

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