JAVARIA NEAGLE BALANCES LITIGATION WITH BUSINESS PRIORITIES AT UNITED AIRLINES

“But when it makes sense to litigate, I’m the first one ready to go,” Neagle says with a smile. “Oftentimes litigation can’t be avoided, and in those instances, I work closely with my clients to creatively craft our best defenses, create offensive strategies, and socialize them as appropriate to mitigate risk to the brand to drive good results.”

Neagle adds that thinking outside the box (and that’s where stretching the gray matter comes in handy), good old-fashioned hard work, and teamwork is the formula for the successful management of litigation.

“Javaria is an elite litigator, mentor, and team builder,” says Telly Andrews, partner at KMA Zuckert LLP. “Having worked with Javaria for well over a decade, we are continually impressed by her ability to bring her vast experience and innate skill to envision an efficient and beneficial resolution to each complex matter and to bring it to fruition.”

UNCERTAINTY IS A BREEDING GROUND FOR GROWTH

The ability to distill that approach down to those teachable few sentences says a lot about Neagle—the practice she’s cultivated, the gut checks she seeks out and encourages her team to ask for, and her capacity to lead a team of aligned attorneys.

If you want to be effective in-house, she says, you need to both have a good gut (i.e., good judgment) and be OK with a lack of absolute certainty.

“I’ve found myself saying to teammates that I’ve brought on board recently,” Neagle says, “[that] we often provide advice based on a quick gut reaction. So, if you want to come to work every day and be exposed to something new and interesting nearly daily, this is the place for you. The thrill of a new issue, which will force you to think quickly and challenge you to formulate a response, will cause you to grow by leaps and bounds.

“And if you feel comfortable operating on your feet,” she continues, “then being in-house is the right environment for you. It’s what keeps me at United, where I am meaningfully engaged and challenged every day. You can’t ask for much more than that!”

Neagle’s solid judgment has grown in large part because of the United legal department’s collaborative and collegial environment. “I am grateful that I work with some of the smartest lawyers around, who have taught me a great deal over the years.”

ADVOCACY OUTSIDE THE OFFICE

While her in-house case management and leadership responsibilities require a great deal of her time, Neagle has racked up an incredible amount of pro bono experience while also using her Spanish language skills to represent asylum seekers fleeing dangerous and often life-threatening circumstances in their home countries. Among her greatest career accomplishments are her victories for her former clients, when she successfully advocated for their right to call the US their home.

“I make it a point to talk to my kids about these clients and, in some cases, my kids have met my clients’ kids, who were also fighting for asylum. It’s important for me to show my kids that I use my skills to help those in need, and I challenge them to find ways to do the same,” Neagle says.

The associate general counsel was recognized by the South Asian Bar Association for her in-house leadership and pro bono accomplishments in 2023. And there’s no doubt that Neagle will continue acting as inspiration for her fellow in-house teammates, her own family, and the most vulnerable people she serves.