SERVICES OF A LAWYER HIRED BY DECEASED HEIRS

GOOD DAY TO EVERYONE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A LEGAL ADVISE IN BEHALF OF MY FRIEND REGARDING THE SERVICES OF A LAWYER HIRED BY THEIR AUNT TO REPRESENT THE FAMILY IN FILING A PETITION FOR RE-EVALUATION OF THEIR PROPERTY SUBMITTED FOR LAND REFORM. THE LAND IS STILL IN A SINGLE TITLE, I.E. OF THE GREAT GRANDFATHER'S. 2 CHILDREN OF THE TITLE HOLDER ARE DECEASED. ONE OF THE CHILDREN IS SURVIVED BY HIS SECOND WIFE, WHILE THE OTHER SIBLING'S CHILDREN ARE ALL DEAD AND IS SURVED BY THE GRAND CHILDREN, ONE OF THEM IS MY FRIEND.

MY FRIEND DON'T KNOW THAT A PETITION WAS FILED UNTIL RECENTLY AND PAYMENT IS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE DARAB MANILA. WHEN THE FAMILY CONTACTED THE LAWYER WHOSE NAME APPEARS ON THE DECISION AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CLAIMANTS, HE IS IMPOSING A 30% SHARE FROM THE GROSS OF WHATEVER THE FAMILY IS ABOUT TO RECEIVE. MY FRIEND KNOWS THAT THE ONE WHO HIRED THE SAID LAWYER IS ONE OF THE DECEASED AUNTS AND THE SURVIVING WIFE OF THE DECEASED UNCLE. WHEN MY FRIEND CALLED THE LAWYER ABOUT THE AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH HIM BY HIS AUNT, THE LAWYER SAID THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT AT ALL AND THAT HE HAS SET A MEETING WITH THE SURVIVING HEIRS TO DISCUSS IT.

MY QUESTION IS THIS? CAN THE LAWYER DEMAND SUCH SHARE WHEN THERE WAS NO WRITTEN AGREEMENT OR NOT ALL HEIRS HAS SIGNED THE AGREEMENT AS TO HIS FEES? CAN THE FAMILY HIRE ANOTHER LAWYER WITHOUT FACING LIABILITIES?

PLEASE HELP TO ENLIGHTEN MY FRIEND. THANK YOU.