If you have fcp7 you could get him to supply you with a short clip in the codec he prefers and then try using the “copy codec” function in compressor. I forget exactly how you do it, drag the clip onto a newly created custom setting I think.
Matt.
If you have the original media files that were used in the original project then he just needs to send you the project which is small and email-a-ble. You can then open that project and re-connect to the medial files that you have and you should be able to carry on working on the project. If you have re-named the original media files or if they were renamed when they were worked with before or if they are different from the ones that were used originally then you and final cut are going to have problems.
Hope this helps. Matt.