Rothenberg, Tellem Are Out of Suit

Are Clipper President Alan Rothenberg and general counsel Arn Tellem on their way out?

Rothenberg and Tellem have withdrawn as counsel in Clipper owner Donald T. Sterling’s breach-of-contract suit against former team owner Irv Levin.

H. Lee Watson, the Clippers’ associate counsel, is now handling the case, which is scheduled to go to trial next January.

Rothenberg and Tellem refused comment Friday because of what Rotheberg called “severe ethical constraints.”

However, a Clipper employee said that Andy Roeser, the team’s director of business operations, has been looking for a new law firm for the team in an attempt to cut ties with Rothenberg and Tellem. Rothenberg denied the employee’s assertion.