Representation requests are handled by the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA).
OLA Telephone: 202-692-5040
OLA personnel
Maria-Kate Dowling, General Counsel
Maria-Kate Dowling joined the National Mediation Board in October 2003. Ms. Dowling is General Counsel of the National Mediation Board. As General Counsel, she serves as the Chief Legal Officer of the agency and manages the Board’s representation program and a legal program which includes litigation. In this role, Ms. Dowling provides legal advice to the Board Members and agency staff. In addition, she ensures compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, Government in the Sunshine Act, and other statutes.
Prior to joining the NMB, Ms. Dowling served as Assistant Chief Counsel to the Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, DC.
Ms. Dowling received a B.S. degree in Computer Science and a B.A. degree in English from the University of Maryland, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She earned a J.D. with honors from the George Washington University, National Law Center. Ms. Dowling is a member of the Maryland Bar.
Angela Heverling, Associate General Counsel
Angela Heverling joined the National Mediation Board as Associate General Counsel in September of 2023. She previously served as Counsel to the Board from 2009 to 2017.
Prior to rejoining the Board, she worked in the Labor Relations Department at Amtrak.
She began her legal career at the Pennsylvania State Education Association, representing public-sector employees. Ms. Heverling has a BA and MA in Political Science and received her law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She is a member of the New York and Pennsylvania bars.
Eileen Hennessey, Counsel
Eileen Hennessey joined the National Mediation Board in May, 2000. She serves as a Counsel in airline and railroad cases. Prior to her current service with the Board, she worked as a legal intern and as an attorney with the Board from 1994 until 1998.
Prior to rejoining the NMB, Ms. Hennessey served as a National Field Representative and Assistant Counsel for the National Treasury Employees Union.
Ms. Hennessey earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, and she studied at the London School of Economics. She also earned her Juris Doctor from the George Washington University, National Law Center.
Andres Yoder, Counsel
Andres Yoder joined the National Mediation Board in 2015 as Counsel in the Office of Legal Affairs. Prior to joining the National Mediation Board, Mr. Yoder worked as an attorney at a Washington, DC labor-law firm and at the Social Security Administration’s Office of Analytics, Review, and Oversight. Mr. Yoder graduated from Messiah College in 2003 and Georgetown University Law Center in 2008.
Josie Bautista, Counsel
Josie Bautista joined the National Mediation Board in June 2019. She serves as counsel in the Office of Legal Affairs.
Prior to joining the Board, Ms. Bautista served as a Litigation Attorney for the United States Air Force. She began her career with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. After leaving the FDIC, she served as National Field Representative/Assistant Counsel for the National Treasury Employees Union. She subsequently served as Senior Staff Attorney for a labor union representing employees in the airline industry.
Ms. Bautista received her B.S. degree in Political Science from Towson State University. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Ms. Bautista is a member of the District of Columbia and Maryland bars.
John Gross, Counsel
John Gross joined the National Mediation Board in September, 2019 as Counsel in the Office of Legal Affairs. Prior to joining the Board, Mr. Gross worked as labor and employment counsel at a national law firm. He began his legal career as a Field Attorney with the National Labor Relations Board, and then served as in-house labor counsel at a major air carrier.
Mr. Gross received his B.A. degree in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross. He earned his Master’s Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, and his Juris Doctor from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. Mr. Gross is a member of the District of Columbia, Connecticut and Texas bars.