Exhibit 10.6

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Employment Agreement” or the “Agreement”) is
made and entered into as of the 8th day of June, 2005 by and between CARDINAL
FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a Virginia corporation, hereinafter called the
“Corporation” or “Cardinal”, and JOHN W. FISHER, hereinafter called the
“Employee”, and provides as follows:

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to retain the services of Employee on the terms
and conditions set forth herein and, for purpose of effecting the same, the
Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) has approved
this Employment Agreement and authorized its execution and delivery on the
Corporation’s behalf to the Employee; and

WHEREAS, the Employee is presently the duly elected President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation and, as such, is a key Employee officer of
the Corporation whose continued dedication, availability, advice and counsel to
the Corporation is deemed important to the Board of Directors, the Corporation
and its stockholders; and

WHEREAS, the services of the Employee, his experience and knowledge of the
affairs of the Corporation, and his reputation and contacts in the industry are
valuable to the Corporation; and

WHEREAS, the Corporation wishes to attract and retain such well-qualified
Employees and it is in the best interests of the Corporation and of the Employee
to secure the continued services of the Employee; and

WHEREAS, The Employee owns 90% of the Corporation’s issued and outstanding
common stock; and

WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution of this Employment Agreement the
Corporation is entering into an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Share
Exchange, dated May 26, 2005, (the “Share Exchange Agreement”) with Cardinal
Financial Corporation, a Virginia corporation (“Cardinal”) pursuant to which the
Corporation will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cardinal (the “Share
Exchange”); and

WHEREAS, if the Share Exchange is consummated, Employee, in his capacity as a
shareholder of the Corporation, shall receive consideration with a value of
$5,940,000.00; and

WHEREAS,   the Corporation and Employee understand and acknowledge that the
execution of this Agreement is a material inducement for Cardinal to enter into
the Share Exchange Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, to assure the Corporation of the Employee’s continued
dedication, the availability of his advice and counsel to the Board of
Directors, and to induce the Employee to remain and continue in the employ of
the Corporation and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy whereof each party hereby acknowledges, the Corporation and the
Employee hereby agree as follows:

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TERMS OF AGREEMENT

Section 1. Employment. (a)  The Corporation and Employee agree that Employee
shall be employed to perform such services for the Corporation as may be
assigned to Employee by the Corporation from time to time upon the terms and
conditions herein provided. Employee’s services shall be rendered in an
executive capacity and shall be of a type for which Employee is suited by
background and training; provided that Employee shall serve as the President and
Chief Executive Officer of Wilson/Bennett Capital Management, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

(b)   References in this Agreement to services rendered for the Corporation and
compensation and benefits payable or provided by the Corporation shall include
services rendered for and compensation and benefits payable or provided by any
Affiliate. References in this Agreement to the “Corporation” also shall mean and
refer to each Affiliate for which Employee performs services. References in this
Agreement to “Affiliate” shall mean any business entity that, directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the
Corporation.

(c)    Employee acknowledges that he is entering into this Agreement on his own
free will and that he has had the benefit of the advice of, and is relying
solely upon, independent counsel of his own choice.

Section 2. Term.   The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof
and continue until April 30, 2008 (the “Employment Period”) unless sooner
terminated under the terms of this Agreement. Beginning on April 30, 2008 and
each April 30 thereafter, the Employment Period and this Agreement and all its
terms and provisions shall be automatically extended for one additional year,
unless prior notice of non-renewal is provided by the Corporation or Employee or
employment under this Agreement is otherwise terminated in accordance with the
provisions of Section 9.

Section 3. Exclusive Service.   Employee shall devote his best efforts and full
time to rendering services on behalf of the Corporation in furtherance of its
best interests. Employee shall comply with all policies, standards and
regulations of the Corporation now or hereafter promulgated, and shall perform
his duties under this Agreement to the best of his abilities and in accordance
with standards of conduct appropriate for the chief executive officer of a
registered investment adviser.

Section 4. Cash Compensation.   (a)  As compensation while employed hereunder,
Employee shall receive a salary at the rate of  $200,000 per year, payable twice
monthly.

(b)   For each calendar year, or part thereof, Employee shall be entitled to a
bonus equal to 10% of the net income of Wilson/Bennett Capital Management, Inc.
if such net income does not exceed $1,000,000. If such net income exceeds
$1,000,000, Employee’s bonus shall be $100,000, plus 20% of the amount by which
net income exceeds $1,000,000.

For 2005 the bonus formula will be annualized. For example, if the Effective
Date is July 1, 2005, the bonus will be 10% of the net income of the Corporation
for the period from July 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005 if such net income doe not
exceed $500,000. If such net income exceeds $500,000, the bonus shall be
$50,000, plus 20% of the amount by which net income exceeds $500,000.

If this Agreement terminates during a year for any reason other than Cause or
resignation without Good Reason, the bonus for the year will be annualized. For
example, if this Agreement terminates on July 1 of a year, the bonus will be 10%
of the net income of the Corporation for the period from January 1, through
June 30 if such net income does not exceed $500,000. If such net income exceeds
$500,000, the bonus shall be $50,000, plus 20% of the amount by which net income
exceeds $500,000.

In 2005 annualization shall be based on the ratio of the number of days from the
Effective Date to the end of the year to the number of days in the year. In the
year Employee’s employment terminates,

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annualization shall be based on the ratio of the number of days in the year
before the Date of Termination to the number of days in the year.

For purposes of this Section 4(b), net income shall be computed according to
generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, but without
deduction for income taxes, amortization of intangible assets or allocations of
indirect overhead. For purposes of the Agreement, “indirect overhead” will
include expenses paid or incurred by Cardinal or its Affiliates that are
allocated to the income statement of the Corporation by Cardinal and that did
not cause Cardinal to incur any incremental cost. This includes, but is not
limited to, advertising costs, insurance costs, and officers’ salaries that are
allocated to the Corporation but which would have been incurred irrespective of
whether Cardinal owned the Corporation. However, if a Cardinal expense is
greater in amount due to its ownership of the Corporation, then such incremental
cost may be deemed direct overhead for purposes of the Agreement.

(c)    The Corporation shall withhold state and federal income taxes, social
security taxes and such other payroll deductions as may from time to time be
required by law or agreed upon in writing by Employee and the Corporation. The
Corporation shall also withhold and remit to the proper party any amounts agreed
to in writing by the Corporation and the Employee for participation in any
corporate sponsored benefit plans in which Employee is a participant and for
which a contribution is required.

(d)   Except as otherwise expressly set forth hereunder, no compensation shall
be paid pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any month or portion thereof
subsequent to any termination of Employee’s employment by the Corporation.

Section 5. Corporate Benefit Plans.   Employee shall be entitled to participate
in or become a participant in any employee benefit plan maintained by the
Corporation for which he is or will become eligible on such terms as the Board
of Directors may, in its discretion, establish, modify or otherwise change. On
and after the effective date of the Share Exchange, Employee shall be entitled
to participate in the Cardinal plans, as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Share
Exchange Agreement. Notwithstanding the above, Employee will not be eligible to
participate in the Cardinal Bank Deferred Compensation Plan. However on or after
the Effective Date, he will be eligible to participate in an executive deferred
compensation plan that is materially equivalent to the George Mason Mortgage,
LLC Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.

Section 6. Expense Account.   The Corporation shall reimburse Employee for
reasonable and customary business expenses incurred in the conduct of the
Corporation’s business. Such expenses will include business meals, out-of-town
lodging and travel expenses. In no event will there be reimbursement for items
which are not reimbursable under Corporation policy. Employee agrees to timely
submit records and receipts of reimbursable items and agrees that the
Corporation can adopt reasonable rules and policies regarding such
reimbursement. The Corporation agrees to make prompt payment to the Employee
following receipt and verification of such reports.

Section 7. Personal and Sick Leave.   Employee shall be entitled to the same
personal and sick leave as the Board of Directors may from time to time
designate for all full-time employees of the Corporation.

Section 8. Vacations.   Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of vacation
leave each year, which shall be taken at such time or times as may be approved
by the Corporation and during which Employee’s compensation hereunder shall
continue to be paid.

Section 9. Termination.   (a)  Notwithstanding the termination of Employee’s
employment pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, the parties shall be
required to carry out any provisions of this Agreement which contemplate
performance by them subsequent to such termination, including the Corporation’s
obligations under Section 10 and the Employee’s obligations under Section 11. In
addition, no termination shall affect any liability or other obligation of
either party which shall have accrued prior to such

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termination, including, but not limited to, any liability, loss or damage on
account of breach. No termination of employment shall terminate the obligation
of the Corporation to make payments of any vested benefits provided hereunder or
the obligations of the Employee under Sections 11 and 12.

(b)   This Agreement shall terminate upon death of the Employee. The Corporation
may terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement, after having
established the Employee’s disability by giving to the Employee written notice
of its intention to terminate his employment for disability, and his employment
with the Corporation shall terminate effective on the 90th day after receipt of
such notice (the “Disability Effective Date”) if within 90 days after such
receipt the Employee shall fail to return to the full-time performance of the
essential functions of his position (and if the Employee’s disability has been
established pursuant to the definition of “disability” set forth below). For
purposes of this Agreement, “disability” means either (i) disability which after
the expiration of more than 13 consecutive weeks after its commencement is
determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected and paid for by the
Corporation or its insurers, and acceptable to the Employee or his legal
representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, or
(ii) disability as defined in the policy of disability insurance maintained by
the Corporation for the benefit of the Employee, whichever shall be more
favorable to the Employee. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the Corporation shall comply with all requirements of the Americans
with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et. seq.

(c)    The Corporation may terminate the Employee’s employment, in its sole
discretion at any time during the Employment Period, with or without “Cause.”

(d)   The Employee’s employment may be terminated by the Employee, in the
Employee’s sole discretion at any time during the Employment Period, with or
without “Good Reason.”

(e)    For purposes of this Agreement,

(i)    “Cause” shall mean the Employee’s:

(A)  continued willful failure, without Cure (as defined below), to perform
substantially the Employee’s duties with the Corporation (other than any such
failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness);

(B)  acts or conduct involving embezzlement, theft, larceny, fraud, or any other
material acts of dishonesty by the Employee in the performance of the Employee’s
duties;

(C)  conviction of, or entrance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a
felony or any crime by the Employee involving moral turpitude which crime of
moral turpitude is demonstrably injurious to the Corporation or client
relationships;

(D)  acts or conduct which result in the Employee becoming subject to an order
of a governmental agency or other regulatory body which prevents or materially
restricts the Employee in performing the Employee’s duties hereunder;

(E)  reporting to work under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or unlawful
controlled substances, or any other material violation, without Cure (to the
extent such other material violation is capable of Cure), of any Corporation
employment policy or procedure or any other material violation of the
Corporation’s employment policy or procedure which has the potential to subject
the Corporation to legal liability;

(F)   conduct that is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Corporation
without Cure (to the extent such conduct is capable of Cure); or

(G)  breach of any of the provisions of Section 11 of this Agreement.

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(ii)   “Cure” shall mean, following the giving of notice of Cause or Good
Reason, the Employee or the Corporation, as the case may be, shall have cured
the Cause or Good Reason within thirty (30) days of such notice having been
given.

(iii)  “Good Reason” shall mean a termination by Employee resulting from a
material breach by the Corporation of a material obligation of the Corporation
under this Agreement without Cure. A breach described in this clause shall
include, but not be limited to:

(A)  a detrimental alteration or failure to comply with the terms of the
Employee’s employment as they relate to the Employee’s position,
responsibilities, reporting and duties, or the compensation and benefit
arrangements applicable to the Employee;

(B)  the failure of the Corporation to obtain an agreement reasonably
satisfactory to the Employee from any successor of the Corporation to assume and
agree to perform this Agreement, as contemplated in Section 13(b) hereof; or

(C)  any termination of the Employee’s employment which is not effected pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement.

(f)    Any termination by the Corporation with or without Cause, or by the
Employee with or without Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of
Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with this Section and
Section 16 of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of
Termination” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination
provision in this Agreement relied upon, and (ii) to the extent applicable, sets
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination of the Employee’s employment under the provision so
indicated. The failure by the Employee or the Corporation to set forth in the
Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of
Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Employee or the
Corporation hereunder or preclude the Employee or the Corporation from asserting
such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Employee’s or the Corporation’s
rights hereunder.

(g)    “Date of Termination” means if the Employee’s employment is terminated
(i) by the Corporation for Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason, the date
that is one day after the last day of the cure period, if any, (ii) by the
Corporation other than for Cause or Disability, or by the Employee without Good
Reason, the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Corporation or the
Employee notifies the Employee or the Corporation, as applicable, of such
termination, and (iii) by reason of death or disability, the date of death of
the Employee or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be.

Section 10.   Obligations of the Corporation upon Termination.

(a)    If, during the Employment Period, the Corporation shall terminate the
Employee’s employment other than for Cause, death or disability or the Employee
shall terminate employment for Good Reason, then the Corporation shall pay to
the Employee each month for 12 months one-twelfth of the Employee’s annual
salary, and the amounts set forth below:

(i)    To the extent not theretofore paid, the Employee’s accrued salary through
the Date of Termination, any bonus for a prior year that remains unpaid; and

(ii)   The Employee’s bonus for the year in which his employment terminates
calculated according to Section 4(b).

(b)   If, during the Employment Period, the Corporation shall terminate the
Employee’s employment for Cause or the Employee shall terminate his employment
without Good Reason, then the Corporation shall have no further obligation to
the Employee; provided the Corporation shall pay

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to the Employee, to the extent not theretofore paid, the Employee’s accrued
salary through the Date of Termination and any bonus for the prior year that
remains unpaid; and, provided further, in order that Section 11(c) shall apply
for twelve (12) months following a termination of employment for cause or a
resignation by Employee without Good Reason, the Corporation may, at its option,
pay to the Employee the same amounts at the same times as set forth in
Section 10(a).

(c)    If, during the Employment Period, the Employee is terminated due to
disability, as defined in Section 9(b) hereof, then the Corporation shall pay to
the Employee in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination
to the extent not theretofore paid, the Employee’s accrued salary through the
Date of Termination and any bonus for a prior year that remains unpaid.

(d)   If, during the Employment Period, the Employee shall die, then the
Corporation shall pay to the Employee’s personal representative in a lump sum in
cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore
paid, the Employee’s accrued salary through the Date of Termination and any
bonus for a prior year that remains unpaid.

(e)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if Employee
breaches Section 11, Employee will not thereafter be entitled to receive any
further compensation or benefits pursuant to this Section 10. All payments to
Employee pursuant to Sections 10(a)(ii) and 10(b)(ii) shall be solely in
exchange for Employee’s covenants and agreements set forth in Section 11 and
shall not be deemed to be severance payments.

(f)(1)    If Employee resigns for any reason within three months after a Change
of Control shall have occurred, or within three months of the date that Bernard
H. Clineburg ceases to serve as the Corporation’s chief executive officer, then
on or before Employee’s last day of employment with the Corporation, the
Corporation shall pay to Employee as compensation for services rendered to the
Corporation a cash amount (subject to any applicable payroll or other taxes
required to be withheld) equal to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the sum of
the payments received by him under Sections 4(a) and 4(b) in the 12 months that
precede the Date of Termination. The cash amount required to be paid hereby
shall be paid by the Corporation in equal monthly installments over the eighteen
(18) months succeeding the date of termination, payable on the first day of each
such month. Payment under this Section 8(f)(1) shall be in lieu of any amount
that is or might be due under Section 10(a).

(2)   For purposes of this Agreement, a Change of Control occurs if, after the
date of this Agreement, (i) any person, including a “group” as defined in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, becomes the owner or
beneficial owner of Corporation or Cardinal securities having 50% or more of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding Corporation or Cardinal securities
that may be cast for the election of the Corporation’s or Cardinal’s directors
other than as a result of an issuance of securities initiated by the
Corporation’s or Cardinal’s directors, or open market purchases approved by the
Board of Directors, as long as the majority of the Board of Directors approving
the purchases is a majority at the time the purchases are made; or (ii) as the
direct or indirect result of, or in connection with, a tender or exchange offer,
a share exchange or other business combination, a sale of assets, a contested
election of directors, or any combination of these events, the persons who were
directors of the Corporation or Cardinal  before such events cease to constitute
a majority of the Corporation’s or Cardinal’s Board, or any successor’s board,
within two years of the last of such transactions. For purposes of this
Agreement, a Change of Control occurs on the date on which an event described in
(i) or (ii) occurs. If a Change of Control occurs on account of a series of
transactions or events, the Change of Control occurs on the date of the last of
such transactions or events.

(3)   It is the intention of the parties that no payment be made or benefit
provided to Employee pursuant to this Agreement that would constitute an “excess
parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and any
regulations thereunder, thereby resulting in a loss of an income

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tax deduction by the Corporation or the imposition of an excise tax on Employee
under Section 4999 of the Code. If the independent accountants serving as
auditors of the Corporation on the date of a Change of Control (or any other
accounting firm designated by the Corporation) determine that some or all of the
payments or benefits scheduled under this Agreement, as well as any other
payments or benefits on a Change of Control, would be nondeductible by the
Company under Section 280G of the Code, then the payments scheduled under this
Agreement will be reduced to one dollar less than the maximum amount which may
be paid without causing any such payment or benefit to be nondeductible. The
determination made as to the reduction of benefits or payments required
hereunder by the independent accountants shall be binding on the parties.
Employee shall have the right to designate within a reasonable period, which
payments or benefits will be reduced; provided, however that if no direction is
received from Employee, the Corporation shall implement the reductions in its
discretion.

Section 11.   Confidentiality/Nondisclosure/Noncompetition/Nonsolicitation.
(a)(i)  The Employee acknowledges:

(A)  The Corporation’s business has been built over a period of  eleven (11)
years through the efforts of Employee; and

(B)   That all or substantially all relationships with the Corporation’s
customers are personal to Employee; and

(C)   That it is his intent, if the Share Exchange is consummated, that the
Corporation’s goodwill, including the value of the long term relationships he
has developed with the Corporation’s customers, shall, indirectly through its
ownership of the Corporation, become the property of Cardinal.

(ii)   By entering into this Agreement, the Employee intends:

(A)  To induce the Corporation and Cardinal to enter into the Share Exchange
Agreement; and

(B)   To induce Cardinal to consummate the Share Exchange.

(b)   Employee covenants and agrees that any and all information concerning the
customers, businesses and services of the Corporation of which he has knowledge
or access as a result of his association with the Corporation in any capacity
shall be deemed confidential in nature and shall not, without the prior written
consent of the Corporation, be directly or indirectly used, disseminated,
disclosed or published by Employee to third parties other than in connection
with the usual conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such information
shall expressly include, but shall not be limited to, information concerning the
Corporation’s asset management methods, other trade secrets, business
operations, business records, customer lists or other customer information. Upon
termination of employment the Employee shall deliver to the Corporation all
originals and copies of documents, forms, records or other information, in
whatever form it may exist, concerning the Corporation or its business,
customers, products or services. In construing this provision it is agreed that
it shall be interpreted broadly so as to provide the Corporation with the
maximum protection. This Section 11(b) shall not be applicable to any
information which, through no misconduct or negligence of Employee, is disclosed
to the public by anyone other than Employee or that Employee, after notifying
the Corporation, is compelled to disclose by legal process.

(c)   During the term of this Agreement and throughout any further period that
he is an officer or employee of the Corporation, and for a period of eighteen
(18) months from and after the date that Employee is (for any reason) no longer
employed by the Corporation or

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for a period of eighteen (18) months from the date of entry by a court of
competent jurisdiction of a final judgment enforcing this covenant in the event
of a breach of Employee, whichever is later, Employee covenants and agrees that
he will not, directly or indirectly, either for himself or as a principal,
agent, employee, employer, stockholder, co-partner or in any other individual or
representative capacity whatsoever provide Competitive Services (as defined in
Section 11(e)) in any state in which Employee has been licensed or registered as
an investment adviser representative or agent of the Corporation at any time
within nine (9) months of the date Employee ceases to be employed by the
Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 11(c) shall not apply
during any period after a termination of Employee’s employment in which or for
which he is not receiving compensation under Section 10.

This Section 11(c) shall not preclude Employee from merely becoming the holder
of any publicly traded stock, provided Employee does not acquire a stock
interest in excess of 5%.

(d)   While employed by the Corporation and for eighteen (18) months after the
Employee’s termination of employment with the Corporation for any reason, the
Employee will not, directly or indirectly, on behalf of the Employee or any
other person or entity, solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or induce, any
person employed by the Corporation during the two-year period immediately prior
to the Employee’s termination, to terminate his or her relationship with the
Corporation and/or to enter into an employment or agency relationship with the
Employee or with any other person or entity with whom the Employee is
affiliated.

(e)   While employed by the Corporation and for eighteen (18) months after the
Employee’s termination of employment with the Corporation for any reason, the
Employee will not, except to the extent necessary to carry out his duties as an
employee of the Corporation, directly or indirectly provide Competitive Services
(as defined below) to any Customer (as defined below), directly or indirectly,
on behalf of the Employee or any other person or entity, or solicit or divert
away or attempt to solicit or divert away any Customer of the Corporation for
the purpose of selling or providing Competitive Services, provided the
Corporation is then still engaged in the sale or provision of Competitive
Services.

(f)(1)  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Customer” means any individual
or entity to whom or to which the Corporation provided Competitive Services
within two years of Employee’s Date of Termination (or, within one year of the
Date of Termination, the Corporation had identified as a prospect for the
provision of Competitive Services, and with whom or with which the Employee had,
alone or in conjunction with others, material contact) during the year
immediately prior to the Date of Termination.

(2)   For purposes of this Agreement, the Employee shall have had material
contact with a person or entity if (i) the Employee had direct business dealings
with the person or entity on behalf of the Corporation; (ii) the Employee was
responsible for supervising or coordinating the business dealings between the
person or entity and the Corporation; (iii) the Employee was responsible for
supervising or coordinating the identification of such person or entity as a
prospective Customer of the Corporation; or (iv) the Employee obtained trade
secrets or confidential information about the person or entity as a direct
result of the Employee’s business involvement with the person or entity on
behalf of the Corporation.

(3)   For purposes of this Agreement, “Competitive Services” shall mean acting
as an investment adviser, investment adviser agent or representative, trust
officer or employee or in any other capacity advising others, directly or
indirectly, for compensation, as to the value of securities or as to the
advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the word “securities” as used in this
Section 11(f)(3) shall not include equity securities that are not registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, unless on or within nine (9) months
prior to the Date of Termination, the Corporation has advised others, directly
or indirectly, for compensation, as to the value of such securities or as to the
advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling such securities as part of a
portfolio of investments.

(g)   The Employee agrees that the covenants in this Section 11 are reasonably
necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Corporation, are reasonable
with respect to time and territory and do not interfere with the interests of
the public. The Employee further agrees that the descriptions of the covenants
contained in this Section 11 are sufficiently accurate and definite to inform
the Employee of the scope of the covenants. Finally, the Employee agrees that
the consideration set forth in the Share Exchange Agreement and in this
Agreement is full, fair and adequate to support the Employee’s obligations
hereunder and the Corporation’s rights hereunder before and after the effective
date of the Share Exchange. The Employee acknowledges that in the event the
Employee’s employment with the Corporation is terminated for any reason, the
Employee will be able to earn a livelihood without violating such covenants.

(h)   The parties have attempted to limit the Employee’s right to compete only
to the extent necessary to protect the Corporation from unfair competition. The
parties recognize, however, that reasonable people may differ in making such a
determination. Accordingly, the parties intend that the covenants contained in
this Section 11 and the subparts thereof to be completely severable and
independent, and any invalidity or unenforceability of any one or more such
covenants will not render invalid or unenforceable any one or more of the other
covenants. The parties further agree that, if the scope or enforceability of a
covenant contained in this Section 11 or a subpart thereof is in any way
disputed at any time, a court or other trier of fact may modify and reform such
provision to substitute such other terms as are reasonable to protect the
Corporation’s legitimate business interests.

(i)    In the event Employee shall desire to engage in any activity which
Employee believes could breach the covenants in this Section 11, Employee may
give notice of such desired activity to the Corporation, and the Corporation
shall advise Employee in writing, within thirty (30) days following receipt of
such notice, of its determination as to whether the proposed activity is
permissible hereunder, or whether the Corporation is willing to permit such
activity even if the Corporation believes such activity is not permissible
hereunder.

(j)    The parties intend that the covenants and restrictions in this Section 11
be enforceable against Employee regardless of the reason that his employment by
the Corporation may terminate and that such covenants and restrictions shall be
enforceable against Employee even if this Agreement expires after a notice of
non-renewal given by Employee or the Corporation under Section 2.

Section 12.   Injunctive Relief, Damages, Etc. The Employee agrees that, given
the nature of the positions held by Employee with the Corporation, each and
every one of the covenants and restrictions set forth in Section 11 above are
reasonable in scope, length of time and geographic area and are necessary for
the protection of the significant investment of the Corporation in developing,
maintaining and expanding its business. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree
that in the event of any breach by Employee of any of the provisions of
Section 11 that monetary damages alone will not adequately compensate the
Corporation for its losses and, therefore, that it shall be entitled to any and
all legal or equitable relief available to it, specifically including, but not
limited to, injunctive relief, and the Employee shall be liable for all damages,
including actual and consequential damages, costs and expenses, including legal
costs and actual attorneys’

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fees, incurred by the Corporation as a result of taking action to enforce, or
recover for any breach of, Section 11, or incidental to a declaratory judgment
action filed by Employee in which the Company is the prevailing party. The
covenants contained in Section 11 shall be construed and interpreted in any
judicial proceeding to permit their enforcement to the maximum extent permitted
by law.

Section 13.   Binding Effect/Successors.   (a)  This Employment Agreement shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Corporation and Employee and
their respective heirs, legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors and assigns. Neither this Agreement, nor any of the rights hereunder,
shall be assignable by the Employee or any beneficiary or beneficiaries
designated by the Employee.

(b)   The Corporation will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, Share Exchange, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially
all of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, or either one of them, by
agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Employee, to expressly
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in its entirety. Failure of the
Corporation to obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such
succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Employee to
the compensation described in Section 10(a).

Section 14.   Governing Law.   This Employment Agreement shall be subject to and
construed in accordance with the laws of Virginia.

Section 15.   Invalid Provisions. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect. Any provision in this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in
any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be valid and enforceable to the
fullest extent permitted by law without invalidating or affecting the remaining
provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

Section 16.   Notices.   Any and all notices, designations, consents, offers,
acceptance or other communications provided for herein shall be given in writing
and shall be deemed properly delivered if delivered in person or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed in the case of the
Corporation to its registered office or in the case of Employee to his last
known address.

Section 17.   Litigation.   If litigation shall be brought to challenge, enforce
or interpret any provision of this Agreement, and such litigation ends with
judgment against a party, that party shall indemnify the other for one-half of
its reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements incurred in such litigation.

Section 18.   Entire Agreement.

(a)    This Employment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all
other agreements, either oral or in writing, among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof.

(b)   This Employment Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be considered an original copy of this Agreement, but all of
which together shall evidence only one agreement.

Section 19.   Amendment and Waiver.   This Employment Agreement may not be
amended except in accordance with the Shareholder Agreement  by an instrument in
writing signed by or on behalf of each of the parties hereto. No provision of
this Agreement may be waived, except in accordance with the Shareholder
Agreement. Any such waiver shall be in writing, signed by the Employee and on
behalf of the Corporation by such officer as may be specifically designated by
the Board of Directors. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any
breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any

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condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or conditions at
the same or at any prior or subsequent time

Section 20.   Captions.   The captions used in this Employment Agreement are
intended for descriptive and reference purposes only and are not intended to
affect the meaning of any Section hereunder.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Employment Agreement to be
signed by its duly authorized officer and Employee has hereunto set his hand and
seal on the day and year first above written.

CARDINAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Title: Executive Vice President

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

(SEAL)

 

John W. Fisher

 

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