A state appeals court Thursday ruled that Mark Zauderer, the court-appointed referee overseeing the combative breakup of Napoli Bern, was correct not to recuse himself last year after a former leader of the law firm argued he was conflicted.

An Appellate Division, First Department, panel wrote in a short opinion that Zauderer “did not abuse his discretion in finding that his impartiality would not be reasonably questioned such that he should recuse himself from this matter.”