Any fee agreement you sign should set out any and all costs you would have to pay. Usually the client would be expected to pay any costs which had to be paid out, but that should be specified clearly in the fee agreement. 50% seems high to me also. Contingent fee agreements usually start at 33-1/3% if settled before a lawsuit has to be filed, 40% if a lawsuit is filed but doesn't go to court and 45-50% if a case actually is tried in the courts. This should also be clearly set out in your fee agreement.