California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from Juarez v. Law Firm of Higbee & Assocs., G054016 (Cal. App. 2019):
"Fee agreements between attorneys and their clients 'are evaluated at the time of their making [citation] and must be fair, reasonable and fully explained to the client. [Citations.] Such contracts are strictly construed against the attorney. [Citations.]' [Citations.] Client agreements are construed by the court under traditional principles of contract interpretation [citation], and 'any uncertainties [are resolved] in favor of a fair and reasonable interpretation.' [Citation.] If ambiguities are present in the engagement agreement, they are to be resolved 'in favor of the client and against the attorney.'" (M'Guinness v. Johnson (2015) 243 Cal.App.4th 602, 617-618.)
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