Three lawyers split from personal injury attorney William Mattar and formed their own practice.

Dean Smith, Joseph Bergen and Todd Schiffmacher broke from the Law Offices of William Mattar on Oct. 15 and opened Smith Bergen & Schiffmacher LLP the next day.

The office is located at 1207 Delaware Ave., Suite 219, in Buffalo.

Bergen said the three left because of differences in business practices including "increasing pressure on the attorneys to settle cases."

Mattar said the three "quit by their actions" and that their claims "are pure opinion and not substantiated."

Mattar said Bergen was employed there for several years while Smith and Schiffmacher were there for one year each.