 He graduated from Haverford College in 1976 and from the University of Michigan Law School in 1979.He began his career as an attorney in the law firm then known as Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Tunney, where his mentors were sports attorneys Alan Rothenberg and Steve Greenberg (son of Hank Greenberg).Tellem specialized in sports law and commercial litigation and became a partner in the firm.