Stephen Welford was admitted as a solicitor in 2000, and when the Hunting Act 2004 was passed he became one of very few who were instructed by the Hunting Office to defend the 300 or so registered packs accused of illegal hunting.
He started in 2009 representing Sir Mark Prescott who was prosecuted by IFAW. He has worked tirelessly since then, representing hunts such as the Belvoir, working closely with Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Princess Diana’s sister when their Terrierman was Prosecuted, the Eton College Beagles, leading to no prosecution, and Sir Phillip Naylor-Leyland’s Fitzwilliam Hunt.
Just this month he successfully secured an acquittal for the Huntsman and Whipper-in of the Quorn Hunt at Leicester City Magistrates. The Quorn are the oldest hunt in world, established in the 1600’s and in years gone by were frequented by our future King, Prince Charles.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-9925477/Hunt-members-cleared-breaching-fox-hunting-ban.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quorn_Hunt
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8231495.stm
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/belvoir-hunt-employees-sentenced-attack-1677954.amp