Ropes & Gray has won a federal appeal in a case brought by a former associate who claimed racial discrimination against the Boston-based law firm.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld summary judgment on Tuesday against John Ray III, who alleged he was fired after he complained about racial remarks made by Ropes & Gray partners.

Chief Judge Jeffrey Howard (left), who wrote the opinion joined by Senior Judge Kermit Lipez and Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson, found that none of the evidence presented by Ray “raises a genuine issue of material fact that the actual reason for Ray's dismissal was racial animus.”