Anthony Edwards’ ex Ayesha Howard’s lawyer withdrew as her representation as the court battle between the NBA star and model turns ugly, In Touch can exclusively report.

According to court documents obtained by In Touch, on February 19, Ayesha’s attorney, Max Fishman from the law firm Kessler & Solomiany, asked for permission to exit the case.

Max was representing Ayesha, 37, in the paternity and child support case brought by Anthony, 23, in Georgia.

Ayesha filed a separate case in California but has different lawyers for that suit.

In Max’s motion, Ayesha’s former lawyer said he notified Ayesha of the decision and said she was responsible for finding a new attorney. Ayesha’s former lawyer did not provide any reasoning for his decision.

The judge presiding over the case signed off on the request this week.

On Wednesday, March 5, a new lawyer named Nishit Patel filed an appearance to take over as Ayesha’s lawyer in the case.

As In Touch previously reported, Anthony and Ayesha had a daughter named Aubri Summers Howard, born in October 2024.

A DNA test, done in December 2024, found the NBA star was the father. He told the court he has no interest in custody or visitation.

Anthony wrote in a declaration, “[Ayesha] and I have one minor child together, Aubri Summer Howard. Paternity was recently established through DNA testing. I am not seeking child custody or visitation of Aubri. Therefore, the only issues to be resolved are financial in nature.”

As a result, the only thing that needs to be determined is child support. Anthony accused Ayesha of filing her lawsuit in California in hopes of scoring a higher child support award.

Anthony’s lawyer argued, “[Ayesha’s] conduct here is unjustifiable and a bad faith attempt to obtain a higher child support order. Ayesha’s conduct of manufacturing a false reality and using the parties’ child for financial gains should not be tolerated.”

Ayesha denied the claims and said she moved to California before Aubri was born.

In court, she submitted a series of alleged text messages Anthony sent her after she informed him she was pregnant. In one alleged message, the NBA star urged Ayesha to get an abortion.

Ayesha wrote in one alleged message, “I’m pregnant … wanted to tell you in person but you gave me no other choice. We probably should have kept it cordial but we’re here now.”

Anthony allegedly wrote back, “Ok lol. Get da abortion lol.”

In a declaration, filed in her case, Ayesha said, “Upon informing Anthony of the pregnancy, he blocked me on all communication platforms and made it clear, through text messages, that he did not want to be involved in the life of our child. His exact words were that our daughter would be a ‘fatherless child.’”

“From that point on, Anthony never reached out to me to inquire about my well-being, the well-being of our child, or any of the needs I had during my pregnancy. I did not receive any support—emotional, financial or otherwise — throughout the entire duration of my pregnancy,” she added.

As In Touch first reported, last month, the L.A. judge granted Anthony’s motion, which argued child support should not be set in California.

The cases are ongoing and no child support has been ordered as of yet.