Clyde & Co has successfully defended a £20 million personal injury claim brought against McLaren Automotive Events Limited, in a High Court decision. The outcome provides important guidance for insurers and tour operators facing cross-border claims under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.
The case, Andrew Cannestra v McLaren Automotive Events Limited [2025] EWHC 1844 (KB), involved a Florida-based neurosurgeon who claimed he was injured during a snowmobile excursion in Lapland, Finland, as part of a luxury McLaren-hosted ice-driving experience. He alleged that inadequate instruction led to a high-speed collision, leaving him with injuries that left him unable to practise medicine.
Following an eight-day trial, the court dismissed the claim entirely. Mr Justice Ritchie found the accident was caused solely by the claimant’s own misuse of the throttle, despite clear safety briefings for the beginner-friendly circular track from trained guides operating within Finnish safety standards. The judge dismissed the claim in its entirety, criticising the implausibility of the claimant’s case.
Clyde & Co’s defence, led by Craig Evans and Thomas Byrne, relied on detailed factual analysis and jurisdiction-specific expertise. The court favoured the testimony of McLaren’s accident reconstruction expert, a former Canadian-based snowmobile collision investigator, over that of the claimant’s UK-based expert, who had no relevant experience. A Finnish Investigative Officer from government agency TUKES (Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency) also confirmed full compliance with local safety requirements.
This ruling is a significant win for McLaren and offers reassurance to insurers, carriers, and TPAs handling international claims. It confirms that adherence to local safety standards can provide a complete defence, even in cases involving inherently risky activities. It also underlines the importance of instructing appropriately qualified experts – the claimant’s reliance on individuals unfamiliar with snowmobiling and English procedure seriously weakened his case.
“This judgment sends a clear message to insurers and their clients,” said Craig Evans, Partner at Clyde & Co. “When local regulations are followed and proper guidance is given, liability for user-driven accidents can be robustly defended.”
The case highlights Clyde & Co’s strength in complex, cross-border litigation and its role as a trusted advisor to the insurance sector. The firm’s international reach and forensic approach were key to preserving evidence, discrediting speculative claims, and securing a decisive outcome.
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