Hemphill, Allen D.

Merv Heller has been a member of the firm of Leisawitz Heller Abramowitch Phillips, P.C. for over twenty-six years and is the head of its real estate development group. His law practice emphasizes real estate development, municipal and business law. He has been a shareholder in the firm since 1977.

Merv has a long history in real estate representing local, regional and national developers with land development including zoning and subdivision, acquisition and sale of shopping centers, industrial plants, large office centers and large residential developments. He is also the solicitor for the Berks County Convention Center Authority, Berks County Solid Waste Authority and the Berks County Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to his legal background, Merv has attained both a local and national reputation for his volunteer activities that include the business, sports, political and non-profit sectors.

Merv was recently elected to become President and Chairman of the Board of the United States Tennis Association beginning in 2001. Merv will also be Chairman of the US Open, the largest and most successful tennis tournament in the world. He is currently the First Vice President of the USTA and is in his sixth year on the Board of Directors. The USTA is the national governing body for tennis in the United States with over 630,000 members.

In 1999, the Reading Eagle-Times newspaper recognized Merv as one of the 50 most influential sports figures over the past 50 years in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Merv has served for over ten years on the Board of Directors and as legal counsel for the Berks County Chamber of Commerce which has a membership of over 2,100 businesses in Berks County. He is a former Chairman and former Finance Chairman of the Berks County Republican Party.

Merv has also been actively involved with numerous local charitable organizations including the American Heart Association, Leadership Berks and American Red Cross. He also has served for thirteen years on the Board of Directors of the Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority.