I'm a practising solicitor and, personally, I prefer my clients to be physically present, within the jurisdiction, for as much of the process as possible.
The process can be completed, without the physical presence of the client within the jurisdiction, but there will be, at least , Anti Money Laundering/actual signatures/ actual sworn Declarations issues.
I most certainly would not act for a complete stranger in a transaction where I never met them.
Faxed/emailed information is one thing but actual , hard, original signatures is another. Your friend may be able to act, on your behalf, under a Power of Attorney but they cannot swear Statutory Declarations - those could be completed, by you, abroad and sent by DHL or similar.
mf