Former Ropes & Gray associate John Ray III’s lawyer characterized him as “a man in a hurry” to fit into Ropes’ white-shoe world as trial got underway Tuesday on Ray’s claims that the firm lashed out at him for filing a discrimination claim.

“We’re here because Ropes & Gray retaliated against John and released his personal information to hundreds of people who didn’t need to know,” Ray’s lawyer, Latif Doman of Washington’s Doman Davis, said during opening statements.