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                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                  EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made as of the 13th day
of September 2002 by and between Legato Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Corporation"), and James P. Chappell ("Executive").

                  WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to continue to employ the
Executive, and the Executive desires to continue his employment with the
Corporation, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

                  WHEREAS, the Executive acknowledges that he has had an
opportunity to consider this agreement and consult with an independent
advisor(s) of his choosing with regard to the terms of this Agreement, and
enters this agreement voluntarily and with a full understanding of its terms.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual
covenants contained herein, the parties agree to as follows:

                  PART ONE - DEFINITIONS

                  For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions
shall be in effect:

                  Board means the Corporation's Board of Directors.

                  Change in Control means a change in the ownership or control
of the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

                  (i)  a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing
         more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
         Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or
         persons different from the persons holding those securities immediately
         prior to such transaction;

                 (ii)  the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
         substantially all of the Corporation's assets in complete liquidation
         or dissolution of the Corporation;

                 (iii) any transaction or series of related transactions
         pursuant to which any person or any group of persons comprising a
         "group" within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (other than the Corporation or a
         person that, prior to such transaction or series of related
         transactions, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is
         under common control with, the Corporation) becomes directly or
         indirectly the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under
         the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of securities
         possessing (or convertible into or exercisable for securities
         possessing) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting
         power of the Corporation's securities outstanding immediately after the
         consummation of such transaction or series of related transactions,
         whether such transaction involves a direct issuance from the
         Corporation or the acquisition of outstanding securities held by one or
         more of the Corporation's stockholders; or

                 (iv)  a change in the composition of the Board over a period of
         thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the
         Board members ceases to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have
         been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period, or
         (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during
         such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in
         clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such
         election or nomination.

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                  Change in Control Severance Payments means the various
payments and benefits to which the Executive may become entitled under Paragraph
14 of Part Three of this Agreement upon his Involuntary Termination in
connection with a Change in Control.

                  Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  Common Stock means the Corporation's common stock.

                  Employment Period means the duration of the Executive's
employment with the Corporation pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

                  Employment Year means each full consecutive twelve (12)-month
period that the Executive is employed by the Corporation after the date of this
Agreement.

                  Fair Market Value means, with respect to the shares of Common
Stock subject to any of the Executive's Options, the closing selling price per
share on the date in question, as such price is reported by the National
Association of Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market and published in
The Wall Street Journal. If there is no closing selling price reported for the
Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value will be the
closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such published report
exists.

                  Incapacity means the inability of the Executive, by reason of
any injury or illness, to properly perform his normal duties under this
Agreement for a period of more than one hundred eighty (180) days.

                  Independent Auditors means the accounting firm serving as the
Corporation's independent certified public accountants immediately prior to the
Change in Control; provided, however, that in the event such accounting firm
also serves as the independent certified public accountants for the corporation
or other entity effecting the Change in Control transaction with the
Corporation, then the Independent Auditors shall mean a nationally-recognized
public accounting firm mutually acceptable to both the Corporation and the
Executive.

                  Involuntary Termination means (i) the Corporation's
termination of the Executive's employment for any reason other than a
Termination for Cause, or (ii) the Executive's voluntary resignation within one
hundred eighty (180) days following (A) a material reduction in the scope of his
duties and responsibilities or the level of management to which he reports, (B)
a reduction in the aggregate dollar amount of his base salary and Target Bonus
by more than fifteen percent (15%), (C) a relocation of his principal place of
employment by more than fifty (50) miles or (D) a material breach by the
Corporation of any of its obligations under this Agreement and the failure of
the Corporation to cure such breach within sixty (60) days after receipt of
written notice from the Executive in which the actions or omissions constituting
such material breach are specified.

                  An Involuntary Termination shall not include the termination
of Executive's employment by reason of death or Incapacity.

                  Option means any option granted to the Executive under the
Plan or otherwise to purchase shares of Common Stock which is outstanding at the
time of a Change in Control. The Options will be divided into two (2) separate
categories as follows:

                  Acquisition-Accelerated Options: any outstanding Option (or
         installment thereof) which immediately accelerates upon a Change in
         Control pursuant to the acceleration provisions of the agreement
         evidencing that Option or the special acceleration provisions of this
         Agreement.

                  Severance-Accelerated Options: any outstanding Option (or
         installment thereof) which, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,
         accelerates upon the Executive's Involuntary Termination following a
         Change in Control.

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                  Option Parachute Payment means, with respect to any
Acquisition-Accelerated Option or any Severance-Accelerated Option, the portion
of that Option deemed to be a parachute payment under Code Section 280G and the
Treasury Regulations issued thereunder. The portion of such Option which is
categorized as an Option Parachute Payment will be calculated in accordance with
the valuation provisions established under Code Section 280G and the applicable
Treasury Regulations and will include an appropriate dollar adjustment to
reflect the lapse of the Executive's obligation to remain in the Corporation's
employ or service as a condition to the vesting of the accelerated installment.

                  Other Parachute Payment means any payment or benefit in the
nature of compensation (other than the Change in Control Severance Payments to
which the Executive may become entitled under Part Three of this Agreement and
his Acquisition-Accelerated Options) which is made to the Executive in
connection with the Change in Control and which is deemed to constitute a
parachute payment under Code Section 280G(b)(2) and the Treasury Regulations
issued thereunder.

                  Parachute Payment means (i) any Change in Control Severance
Payment provided the Executive under Part Three of this Agreement which is
deemed to constitute a parachute payment within the meaning of Code Section
280G(b)(2) and the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder and (ii) any Option
Parachute Payment attributable to his Acquisition-Accelerated Options.

                  Plan means (i) the Corporation's 1995 Stock Option/Stock
Issuance Plan, as amended or restated from time to time, and (ii) any successor
stock incentive plan subsequently implemented by the Corporation.

                  Present Value means the value, determined as of the date of
the Change in Control, of any payment in the nature of compensation to which the
Executive becomes entitled in connection with the Change in Control or his
subsequent Involuntary Termination, including (without limitation) the Option
Parachute Payment attributable to the Executive's Acquisition-Accelerated and
Severance-Accelerated Options and the Parachute Payment attributable to the
additional severance benefits to which the Executive becomes entitled under Part
Four of this Agreement. The Present Value of each such payment shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 280G(d)(4),
utilizing a discount rate equal to one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the
applicable Federal rate in effect at the time of such determination, compounded
semi-annually to the effective date of the Change in Control.

                  Target Bonus means the annual incentive bonus to which the
Executive may become entitled for one or more fiscal years upon the
Corporation's attainment of the financial milestones designated for the
applicable year and the Executive's attainment of any personal objectives
specified for him for that year.

                  Termination for Cause means the termination of the Executive's
employment due to (i) the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or
dishonesty by the Executive, (ii) any unauthorized use or disclosure by the
Executive of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or
any parent or subsidiary), (iii) any other intentional misconduct by the
Executive adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation in a
material manner, or (iv) the Executive's breach of this Agreement. The foregoing
definition shall not be deemed to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions
which the Corporation (or any parent or subsidiary) may consider as grounds for
the dismissal or discharge of the Executive or any other individual in the
service of the Corporation (or any parent or subsidiary).

                  The Corporation may not terminate the Executive under clause
(iv) above, unless it has given the Executive notice in writing of its intention
to terminate his employment for Cause pursuant to such provisions and thirty
(30) days to correct any condition giving rise to Cause for termination. In the
event that the Executive fails satisfactorily to correct such conditions of
which he is notified, which determination shall be made by the Board, his
employment shall be terminated.

                 PART TWO -- TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

            1.       Duties and Responsibilities.

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                  A. The Executive shall continue to serve as the Senior Vice
President for Business Process and Development of the Corporation and shall in
such capacity report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.
As Senior Vice President for Business Process and Development, the Executive's
job duties shall include, without limitation (and the Corporation reserves the
right to change), the following: overseeing the business development function in
the Corporation, the identification and pursuit of strategic business
opportunities, mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, alliances and/or joint
ventures, and developing long-range strategic plans for the Corporation. The
Executive shall devote his full business time and attention to the business and
affairs of the Corporation during the Employment Period. The Executive shall not
engage in any other business, job or consulting activity during the Employment
Period without the written permission of the Corporation.

                  B. The Executive hereby agrees to remain in his capacity as
Senior Vice President for Business Process and Development during the Employment
Period specified in Paragraph 2 and to perform in good faith and to the best of
his ability all services which may be required of Executive hereunder and to be
available to render services at all reasonable times and places in accordance
with such reasonable directions and requests made by the Chief Executive Officer
and/or the Board.

                  C. The Executive shall be based at the Corporation's principal
offices in the Silicon Valley/Bay Area, California, but the Executive may be
required from time to time to travel to other geographic locations in connection
with the performance of his duties hereunder.

                  2. Employment Period. The Employment Period shall begin with
the initial Employment Year commencing as of the date of this Agreement and
shall continue for an additional two (2) Employment Years thereafter. After the
expiration of each Employment Year for which this Agreement remains in effect,
the Employment Period shall automatically be extended for an additional one
(1)-year period upon the same terms and conditions as are set forth herein,
unless either party gives written notice to the other at least thirty (30) days
prior to the end of the then current Employment Year that the Employment Period
shall not be extended beyond the remaining term of the Employment Period.

                  3. Cash Compensation.

                  A. Executive shall be paid a base salary at the annual rate of
Two Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($275,000.00). Such rate shall be
subject to annual review by the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Board and may
be increased or decreased at the Chief Executive Officer's and/or the Board's
discretion. Base salary shall be paid at periodic intervals in accordance with
the Corporation's payroll practices for salaried employees.

                  B. For each fiscal year of the Corporation during the
Employment Period, including the fiscal year which commenced January 1, 2002,
the Executive shall be entitled to a Target Bonus of up to sixty percent (60%)
of his annual base salary for that fiscal year. The amount of the bonus shall be
based on the individual performance of the Executive, as well as the
Corporation's attainment of certain financial objectives. The Chief Executive
Officer will establish the Executive's individual performance objectives, as
well as financial objectives of the Corporation, and such objectives shall be
submitted to the Board for approval no later than March 31 of the fiscal year in
which the bonus is to be awarded. The bonus earned for each fiscal year shall
become payable within ninety (90) days after the close of that year.

                  C. The Corporation shall deduct and withhold from the
compensation payable to Executive hereunder any and all applicable federal,
state and local income and employment withholding taxes and any other amounts
required to be deducted or withheld by the Corporation under applicable
statutes, regulations, ordinances or orders governing or requiring the
withholding or deduction of amounts otherwise payable as compensation or wages
to employees.

                  4. Equity Compensation

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          A. The Executive has received a series of Options over his period of
employment to date with the Corporation. Each of those Options shall vest and
become exercisable for the shares of Common Stock subject to that Option in
installments over the Executive's period of service with the Corporation. The
Options granted to date may be summarized as follows:

          Grant Date        Number of Option Shares          Exercise Price
          ----------        -----------------------          --------------

          06/19/92          128,000                          $ 0.0310

          01//07/94          32,000                          $ 0.4380

          02/13/95           80,000                          $ 0.7810

          01/27/97           20,000                          $ 5.9380

          01/27/98           29,600                          $11.2660

          02/17/99           50,000                          $20.7500

          06/18/99           50,000                          $27.5000

          01/28/00           12,321                          $26.3750

          01/28/00           37,679                          $26.3750

          07/11/00            5,422                          $13.3750

          07/11/00           44,578                          $13.3750

          11/10/00                3                          $ 9.7500

          11/10/00           99,997                          $ 9.7500

          09/21/01           14,021                          $ 4.7600

          09/21/01           60,979                          $ 4.7600

          B. The Executive shall be eligible to receive one or more additional
Option grants during the Employment Period, as the Board or the Compensation
Committee of the Board may deem appropriate in order to provide him with
sufficient equity incentives for his position.

          C. The shares of Common Stock subject to the Options summarized in
Paragraph 4.A above, together with each additional Option which the Executive
may subsequently receive over the remainder of the Employment Period, shall be
subject to the applicable vesting acceleration provisions of Paragraph 12 or
14(d) of Part Three in the event there should occur a Change in Control during
the Employment Period.

          5. Expense Reimbursement. In addition to the compensation specified in
Paragraph 3, the Executive shall be entitled, in accordance with the
reimbursement policies in effect from time to time, to receive reimbursement
from the Corporation for all business expenses incurred by the Executive in the
performance of his duties hereunder, provided the Executive furnishes the
Corporation with vouchers, receipts and other details of such expenses in the
form required by the Corporation sufficient to substantiate a deduction for such
business expenses under all applicable rules and regulations of federal and
state taxing authorities.

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          6. Fringe Benefits. The Executive shall, throughout the Employment
Period, be eligible to participate in fringe benefit plans, described in the
Employee Benefit Handbook for employee's at the Executive's level, as may be
modified from time to time.

          7. Indemnification. Throughout the Employment Period, the Corporation
shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless from and against all loss, cost
and expense arising from or relating to (i) his service as officer or employee
of the Corporation or a member of the Board or (ii) his service at the
Corporation's request as an officer, employee, agent or board member of any
other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise, other than losses attributable to the Executive's
intentional misconduct. The Corporation shall maintain in full force and effect
a Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Policy issued by an established and
nationally-recognized insurer which shall provide coverage in reasonable amounts
for the Executive. In addition, the Corporation shall pay and advance all
expenses, including (without limitation) attorneys' fees, disbursements and
retainers, accounting and witness fees, travel and deposition costs, expenses of
investigations and judicial or administrative proceedings and appeals, actually
incurred by the Executive in connection with any threatened, pending or
completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether formal or informal and
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative in nature, or amounts
paid by the Executive or on the Executive's behalf in settlement of any such
claim, action, suit or proceeding, to the extent such claim, action, suit or
proceeding arises from or relates to the Executive's service as officer or
employee of the Corporation or as a member of the Board or his service at the
Corporation's request as an officer, employee, agent or board member of any
other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise.

          8. Death or Incapacity. Upon the Executive's death or Incapacity
during the Employment Period, the employment relationship created pursuant to
this Agreement shall immediately terminate, and the Corporation shall provide to
the Executive or his estate, contingent on the Executive or the Executive's
heirs executing a general release in a form prescribed by the Corporation: (i)
any unpaid base salary earned under Paragraph 3 for services rendered through
the date of death or Incapacity, (ii) the dollar value of all accrued and unused
vacation benefits based upon the Executive's most recent level of base salary,
(iii) any bonus compensation which becomes due and payable for the fiscal year
in which the Executive's death or Incapacity occurs, pro-rated in amount on the
basis of the portion of that year completed prior to the Executive's death or
Incapacity; (iv) a lump sum cash payment equal to one (1) times the annual rate
of base salary in effect for the Executive under Paragraph 3 at the time of his
death or Incapacity; and (v) in the case of Incapacity, but not death, continued
health care coverage under the Corporation's medical plan for the Executive and
his eligible dependents, without charge, upon his election to receive such
continued health care coverage under Code Section 4980B ("COBRA"), for a period
not to exceed the earlier of (a) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period
following the termination of the Executive's employment or (b) the first date on
which the Executive and his eligible dependents are covered under another
employer's health benefit program without exclusion for any pre-existing medical
condition. Any additional health care coverage to which the Executive and his
dependents may be entitled under COBRA following the period of such
Corporation-paid coverage shall be at the Executive's sole cost and expense. All
vesting of the Executive's outstanding Options shall cease at the time of his
termination of employment by reason of death or Incapacity, and the Executive
shall not have more than the period of time specified in the applicable stock
option agreement for each Option in which to exercise that Option following such
termination of employment for the shares of Common Stock which are vested and
exercisable at the time of such termination.

          9. Restrictive Covenants.

          A. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall not, without
prior written consent from the Board, on his own account or as an employee,
agent, promoter, consultant, partner, officer, director, or shareholder of any
other person, firm, entity, partnership or corporation, own, operate, lease,
franchise, conduct, engage in, be connected with, have any interest in, or
assist any person or entity engaged in any business that is competitive with the
business that is conducted by the Corporation or is in the same general field or
industry as the Corporation, except as the holder of not more than 1% of the
outstanding stock of a publicly held company. In the event that the Executive
engages in any conduct described in this Paragraph 9, while receiving severance
payments from the Corporation under Part 3 or 4 of this Agreement, the
Corporation may withhold such payment from the Executive, until the Executive
ceases to engage in such activity described in this paragraph.

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                  B.    In addition, the Executive shall not during the
Employment Period:

                        (i)  contact, solicit or call upon any customer or
         supplier of the Corporation on behalf of any person or entity other
         than the Corporation for the purpose of selling, providing or
         performing any services of the type normally provided or performed by
         the Corporation; or

                        (ii) induce or attempt to induce any person or entity to
         curtail or cancel any business or contracts which such person or entity
         had with the Corporation.

                  10.   Proprietary Information.

                  A.    The Executive hereby acknowledges that the Corporation
may, from time to time during the Employment Period, disclose to the Executive
confidential information pertaining to the Corporation's business and affairs,
technology, research and development projects and customer base, including
(without limitation) financial information concerning customers and prospective
business opportunities. All information and data, whether or not in writing, of
a private or confidential nature concerning the business, technology or
financial affairs of the Corporation and its clients (collectively, "Proprietary
Information") is and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of the
Corporation. All tangible manifestations of such Proprietary Information
(whether written, printed or otherwise reproduced) shall be returned by the
Executive upon the termination of the Employment Period, and the Executive shall
not retain any copies or excerpts of the returned items.

                  B.    The Executive shall, throughout the term of the
Employment Period, remain subject to the terms and conditions of the Proprietary
Information and Inventions Agreement which he previously executed with the
Corporation, and nothing in this Agreement shall supersede, modify or affect the
Executive's obligations, duties and responsibilities under such Proprietary
Information and Inventions Agreement, and that agreement shall accordingly
continue in full force and effect.

                  11.   Termination of Employment.

                  A.    The Corporation, acting by majority vote of the Board,
may terminate the Executive's employment under this Agreement at any time for
any reason, with or without Cause, by providing written notice of such
termination to the Executive. If such termination notice is given to the
Executive, the Corporation may, if it so desires, immediately relieve the
Executive of some or all of his duties.

                  B.    The Executive may terminate his employment under this
Agreement at any time by giving the Corporation written notice of such
termination.

                  C.    The Corporation, acting by majority vote of the Board,
may at any time, upon written notice, discharge the Executive from employment
with the Corporation hereunder pursuant to a Termination for Cause. Such
termination shall be effective immediately upon such notice.

                  D.    Upon the termination of the Executive's employment
pursuant to this Paragraph 11, the Executive shall be paid (i) any unpaid base
salary earned under Paragraph 3 for services rendered through the date of such
termination, and (ii) the dollar value of all accrued and unused vacation
benefits based upon the Executive's most recent level of base salary. Unless
such termination occurs in connection with a Change in Control which entitles
the Executive to the payments and benefits provided under Part Three of this
Agreement, all vesting of the Executive's outstanding Options shall cease at the
time of such termination of employment, and the Executive shall not have more
than the period of time specified in the applicable stock option agreement for
each Option in which to exercise that Option following such termination of
employment for the shares of Common Stock which are vested and exercisable at
the time of such termination.

                     PART THREE - CHANGE IN CONTROL PAYMENTS

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                  This Part Three sets forth certain payments and benefits to
which the Executive may become entitled in connection with a Change in Control
or Involuntary Termination following such Change in Control.

                  12. Option Acceleration. Each Option, to the extent
outstanding at the time of a Change in Control but not otherwise vested and
exercisable for all the shares of Common Stock subject to that Option will,
immediately prior to the effective date of that Change in Control, vest and
become exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to
the Option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested
shares of Common Stock; provided and only if the following conditions are
satisfied with respect to that Change in Control:

                      (i)  the Option is not to be assumed by the successor
         corporation (or its parent company) or otherwise continued in effect
         pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction, and

                      (ii) the Option is not to be replaced with a substitute
         option or cash incentive plan that preserves the spread existing at the
         time of the Change in Control on any shares for which that Option is
         not otherwise at that time vested and exercisable (the excess of the
         Fair Market Value of those shares over the applicable option exercise
         price) and which vests at the same or faster rate as the vesting
         schedule applicable to that Option.

                  13. Entitlement to Change in Control Severance Payments.
Should the Executive's employment pursuant to this Agreement terminate by reason
of an Involuntary Termination within eighteen (18) months after such Change in
Control, then the Executive shall become entitled to receive the Change in
Control Severance Payments set forth in Paragraph 14, subject to his compliance
with the following requirement:

                      - The Executive shall, at the time of such Involuntary
         Termination, execute and deliver to the Corporation a general release
         which shall become effective under applicable law and pursuant to which
         the Executive releases the Corporation and its officers, directors,
         employees and agents from any and all claims the Executive may
         otherwise have with respect to the terms and conditions of his
         employment with the Corporation and the termination of that employment
         (other than his rights pertaining to the Change in Control Severance
         Payments provided under this Part Three).

                      The Change in Control Severance Payments provided under
this Part Three shall be in lieu of any other severance benefits to which the
Executive might otherwise, by reason of the termination of his employment in
connection with a Change in Control, be entitled under any other severance plan,
program or arrangement of the Corporation.

                  14. Nature of Change in Control Severance Payments. The Change
in Control Severance Payments to which the Executive shall receive under this
Part Three shall consist of the following payments and benefits:

                      (a) Lump Sum Payment. Executive shall be entitled to a
lump sum cash payment equal to one (1) times the sum of (i) the annual rate of
base salary in effect for him under Paragraph 3 at the time of his Involuntary
Termination and (ii) the Target Bonus in effect for him for the fiscal year of
the Corporation in which such Involuntary Termination occurs. Such lump sum
payment shall be made within three (3) business days following the date the
general release required of the Executive pursuant to Paragraph 13 and shall be
subject to all applicable withholding requirements as set forth in Paragraph
3.C.

                      (b) Target Bonus Pro-Ration. For each full or partial
month of employment which the Executive completes with the Corporation in the
fiscal year in which his Involuntary Termination occurs, the Executive shall
also be entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to one-twelfth
(1/12th) of the annual Target Bonus in effect for him for that year. Such lump
sum payment shall be made within three (3) business days

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following the date the general release required of the Executive
pursuant to Paragraph 13 and shall be subject to all applicable withholding
requirements as set forth in Paragraph 3.C.

                           (c)  Health Care Coverage. Continued health care
coverage under the Corporation's medical plan shall be provided, without charge,
to the Executive and his eligible dependents upon his election to receive such
continued health care coverage under Code Section 4980B ("COBRA"). Such
Corporation-paid coverage shall continue until the earlier of (i) the expiration
of the eighteen (18)-month period measured from the first day of the calendar
month following the calendar month in which his Involuntary Termination occurs
or (ii) the first date on which the Executive and his eligible dependents are
covered under another employer's health benefit program without exclusion for
any pre-existing medical condition. Any additional health care coverage to which
the Executive and his dependents may be entitled under COBRA following the
period of such Corporation-paid coverage shall be at the Executive's sole cost
and expense. However, should the Executive not be covered under another
employer's health plan at the time the initial eighteen (18)-month period of
Corporation-paid coverage expires, then the Corporation shall, for up to an
additional six (6)-month period thereafter, reimburse the Executive for any
premiums paid during such period on his continued COBRA coverage (if any) or the
individual health care coverage policy issued to him in conversion of his COBRA
coverage.

                           (d)  Option Acceleration. Each Option outstanding at
the time of such Involuntary Termination, to the extent not otherwise vested and
exercisable for all the shares subject to that Option, will immediately vest and
become exercisable for all those option shares and may be exercised for any or
all of those shares as fully vested shares.

                           (e)  Extension of Exercise Period. For each
outstanding Option (i) which is granted to the Executive on or after September
13, 2002 or (ii) which is outstanding on that date and is not otherwise listed
as an excluded Option on attached Schedule I, the Executive shall have until the
earlier of (i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period measured from the
date of his Involuntary Termination or (ii) the expiration date of the option
term in which to exercise that Option. To the extent the exercise period of any
existing Option which is an incentive stock option under the federal income tax
laws is so extended, that Option shall be deemed to be regranted on the date of
this Agreement and may accordingly fail to retain such incentive stock option
status by reason of the One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limit on the
initial exercisability of incentive stock options per calendar year or because
the exercise price of that Option is below the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock on September 13, 2002. Accordingly, if the Option does lose such incentive
stock option status, the Executive shall recognize immediate taxable income upon
the subsequent exercise of that Option in an amount equal to the Fair Market
Value of the purchased shares less the exercise price paid for those shares, and
the Executive will have to satisfy all applicable income and employment
withholding taxes at the time of such exercise. To the extent any such Option
does retain its incentive stock option status, the Executive shall not be
entitled to long-term capital gain treatment upon the subsequent sale of any
shares purchased under that Option unless such sale occurs more than two (2)
years after the deemed September 13, 2002 regrant date of that Option and more
than one (1) year after the date such Option is exercised for those shares.

                         PART FOUR - SPECIAL TAX PAYMENT

                    15.    Special Tax Gross-Up. In the event that one or more
of the Acquisition-Accelerated Options or any of the Change in Control Severance
Payments to which the Executive becomes entitled under Part Three of this
Agreement or any Other Parachute Payments are deemed, in the opinion of the
Independent Auditors or by the Internal Revenue Service, to constitute an excess
parachute payment under Code Section 280(G), then the Executive shall be
entitled to receive from the Corporation an additional payment (the "Gross-Up
Payment") in a dollar amount determined pursuant to the following formula,
provided and only if the general release required of the Executive pursuant to
Paragraph 13 has become effective:

                          X  =  Y  /  [1 - (A + B + C)], where

                          X is the total dollar payment of the Gross-up Payment.

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<PAGE>


                           Y is the total excise tax, together with all
                           applicable interest and penalties (collectively, the
                           "Excise Tax"), imposed on the Executive pursuant to
                           Code Section 4999 (or any successor provision) with
                           respect to the excess parachute payment attributable
                           to (i) one or more of the Change in Control Severance
                           Payments provided the Executive under Part Three of
                           this Agreement, (ii) his Acquisition-Acceleration
                           Options and (iii) any Other Parachute Payments.

                           A is the Excise Tax rate in effect under Code Section
                           4999 for such excess parachute payment,

                           B is the highest combined marginal federal income and
                           applicable state income tax rate in effect for the
                           Executive for the calendar year in which the Gross-Up
                           Payment is made, determined after taking into account
                           the deductibility of state income taxes against
                           federal income taxes to the extent actually allowable
                           for that calendar year, and

                           C is the applicable Hospital Insurance (Medicare) Tax
                           Rate in effect for the Executive for the calendar
                           year in which the Gross-Up Payment is made.

                  16.      Determination Procedures. All determinations required
to be made under this Part Four shall be made by the Independent Auditors in
accordance with the following procedures:

                           (a)    Within ten (10) business days after each
receipt of written notice from the Corporation or the Executive that a Change in
Control Severance Payment or Other Parachute Payment has or is to be made or
that one or more Options have or will become Acquisition-Accelerated Options,
then the Independent Auditors shall provide both the Executive and the
Corporation with a written determination of the Parachute Payment attributable
to that Change in Control Severance Payment or Other Parachute Payment or the
Option Parachute Payment attributable to those Acquisition-Accelerated Options,
together with detailed supporting calculations with respect to the Gross-Up
Payment to which the Executive is entitled by reason of those various Parachute
Payments. The Corporation shall pay the resulting Gross-Up Payment to the
Executive within three (3) business days after receipt of such determination or
(if later) contemporaneously with the Change in Control Severance Payment, Other
Parachute Payment or Acquisition-Accelerated Options triggering such Gross-Up
Payment.

                           (b)    In the event temporary, proposed or final
Treasury Regulations in effect at the time under Code Section 280G (or
applicable judicial decisions) specifically address the status of any Change in
Control Severance Payment, Acquisition-Accelerated Option or Other Parachute
Payment or the method of valuation therefor, the characterization afforded to
such payment by the Regulations (or such decisions) shall, together with the
applicable valuation methodology, be controlling. All other determinations by
the Independent Auditors shall be made on the basis of "substantial authority"
(within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code).

                           (c)    The Corporation and the Executive shall each
provide the Independent Auditors with access to and copies of any books, records
and documents in their possession which may be reasonably requested by the
Independent Auditors and shall otherwise cooperate with the Independent Auditors
in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determinations
contemplated by this Part Four.

                           (d)    All fees and expenses of the Independent
Auditors and the appraisers shall be borne solely by the Corporation, and to the
extent those fees or expenses are treated as a Parachute Payment, they shall be
taken into account in the calculation of the Gross-Up Payment to which the
Executive is entitled under this Part Four.

                  17.      Additional Claims. The Executive shall provide
written notification to the Corporation of any claim made by the Internal
Revenue Service which would, if successful, require the payment by the

                                       10

<PAGE>

Corporation of an additional Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given
as soon as practicable after the Executive is informed in writing of such claim
and shall apprise the Corporation of the nature of such claim and the date on
which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim
prior to the expiration of the thirty (30)-day period following the date on
which such notice is given to the Corporation (or such shorter period ending on
the date that any payment of taxes, interest and/or penalties with respect to
such claim is due). Prior to the expiration of such thirty (30)-day or shorter
period, the Corporation shall ether (i) make the additional Gross-Up Payment to
the Executive attributable to the Internal Revenue Service claim or (ii) provide
written notice to the Executive that the Corporation shall contest the claim on
the Executive's behalf. In the event, the Corporation provides the Executive
with such written notice, the Executive shall:

                  (A) provide the Corporation with any information reasonably
requested by the Corporation relating to such claim;

                  (B) take such action in connection with contesting such claim
as the Corporation may reasonably request in writing from time to time,
including (without limitation) accepting legal representation with respect to
such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Corporation and reasonably
satisfactory to the Executive, with the fees and expenses of such attorney to be
the sole responsibility of the Corporation without any tax implications to the
Executive in accordance with the same tax indemnity/gross-up arrangement as in
effect under subparagraph (D) below;

                  (C) cooperate with the Corporation in good faith in order to
effectively contest such claim; and

                  (D) permit the Corporation to participate in any proceedings
relating to such claim; provided, however, that the Corporation shall bear and
pay directly all additional Excise Taxes imposed upon the Executive and all
costs, legal fees and other expenses (including additional interest and
penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify the
Executive for and hold him harmless from, on an after-tax basis, any additional
Excise Tax (including interest and penalties) imposed upon the Executive and any
Excise Tax or income or employment tax (including interest and penalties)
attributable to the Corporation's payment of that additional Excise Tax on the
Executive's behalf or imposed as a result of such representation and payment of
all related costs, legal fees and expenses. The amounts owed to the Executive by
reason of the foregoing shall be paid to him or on his behalf as they become due
and payable. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this subparagraph (D),
the Corporation shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such
contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative
appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in
respect of such claim and may, at the Corporation's sole option, either direct
the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim
in any permissible manner, and the Executive shall prosecute such contest to a
determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial
jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Corporation shall
determine; provided, however, that should the Corporation direct the Executive
to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Corporation shall advance the amount
of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis, and shall indemnify
the Executive for and hold him harmless from, on an after-tax basis, any Excise
Tax or income or employment tax (including interest or penalties) imposed with
respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to
such advance or any income resulting from the Corporation's forgiveness of such
advance; provided, further, that the Corporation's control of the contest shall
be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable
hereunder, and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case
may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other
taxing authority.

                       PART FIVE -- RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

                  18. Non-Solicitation. For a period of one (1) year following
the Executive's termination of employment with the Corporation, whether or not
in connection with a Change in Control, the Executive shall not encourage or
solicit any of the Corporation's employees to leave the Corporation's employ for
any reason or interfere in any other manner with employment relationships at the
time existing between the Corporation and its employees.

                                       11

<PAGE>

                      PART SIX -- MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

                  19. Continued Indemnification. The indemnification provisions
for Officers and Directors under the Corporation's bylaws and Directors and
Officers Liability Insurance shall (to the maximum extent permitted by law) be
extended to the Executive during the period following his resignation or
termination of employment for any reason (other than a Termination for Cause),
whether or not in connection with a Change in Control, with respect to all
matters, events or transactions occurring or effected during the Executive's
period of employment with the Corporation.

                  20. Cessation of Severance Benefits. In the event of a
material breach by the Executive of any of his obligations under Paragraph 9, 10
or 18 of this Agreement or his Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement
with the Corporation, he shall cease to be entitled to any further severance
benefits under Part Three of this Agreement, including (without limitation) any
subsequent right to exercise any outstanding Options or to receive any further
salary/target bonus payments or continued health care coverage at the
Corporation's expense. In no event shall the Executive be entitled to any
benefits under Part Three of this Agreement if his employment ceases by reason
of a Termination for Cause or if he voluntarily resigns other than for a reason
which qualifies as grounds for an Involuntary Termination.

                  21. No Mitigation Duty. The Corporation shall not be entitled
to set off any of the following amounts against the payments or benefits to
which the Executive may become entitled under Part Three of this Agreement: (i)
any amounts which the Executive may subsequently earn through other employment
or service following his termination of employment with the Corporation or (ii)
any amounts which the Executive might have potentially earned in other
employment or service had he sought such other employment or service.

                  22. Death. Should the Executive die before he receives the
full amount of payments and benefits to which he may become entitled under Part
Three of this Agreement, then the balance of such payments shall be made, on the
due dates hereunder had the Executive survived, to the executors or
administrators of his estate.

                  23. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, (i) the Corporation
and its successors and assigns, including any successor entity by merger,
consolidation or transfer of all or substantially all of the Corporation's
assets (whether or not such transaction constitutes a Change in Control), and
(ii) the Executive, the personal representative of his estate and his heirs and
legatees.

                  24. General Creditor Status. The benefits to which the
Executive may become entitled under Part Three of this Agreement shall be paid,
when due, from the Corporation's general assets, and no trust fund, escrow
arrangement or other segregated account shall be established as a funding
vehicle for such payments. Accordingly, the Executive's right (or the right of
the executors or administrators of the Executive's estate) to receive such
benefits shall at all times be that of a general creditor of the Corporation and
shall have no priority over the claims of other general creditors.

                  25. Notices.

                  A.  Any and all notices, demands or other communications
required or desired to be given hereunder by any party shall be in writing and
shall be validly given or made to another party if delivered either personally
or if deposited in the United States mail, certified or registered, postage
prepaid, return receipt requested. If such notice, demand or other communication
shall be delivered personally, then such notice shall be conclusively deemed
give at the time of such personal delivery. If such notice, demand or other
communication is given by mail, such notice shall be conclusively deemed given
forty-eight (48) hours after deposit in the United States mail addressed to the
party to whom such notice, demand or other communication is to be given as
hereinafter set forth:

                  To the Corporation:       Legato Systems, Inc.
                                            2350 West El Camino Real

                                       12

<PAGE>

                                            Mountain View, CA 94040
                                            Attention: General Counsel

                  To Executive:             James P. Chappell
                                            2350 West El Camino Real
                                            Mountain View, CA 94040

                  B.  Any party hereto may change its address for the purpose of
receiving notices, demands and other communications as herein provided by a
written notice given in the manner aforesaid to the other party hereto.

                  26. Governing Documents. This Agreement, together with (i) the
stock option agreements evidencing the Executive's currently outstanding Options
and any future Option grants, (ii) his existing Proprietary Information and
Inventions Agreement, and (iii) any outstanding promissory notes of the
Executive payable to or to the order of the Corporation, shall constitute the
entire agreement and understanding of the Corporation and the Executive with
respect to the terms and conditions of the Executive's employment with the
Corporation and the payment of severance benefits and shall supersede all prior
and contemporaneous written or verbal agreements and understandings between the
Executive and the Corporation relating to such subject matter. This Agreement
may only be amended by written instrument signed by the Executive and an
authorized officer of the Corporation. Any and all prior agreements,
understandings or representations relating to the Executive's employment with
the Corporation, other than (i) the stock option agreements evidencing the
Executive's currently outstanding Options, (ii) his existing Proprietary
Information and Inventions Agreement and (iii) his outstanding promissory notes
payable to or to the order of the Corporation, are hereby terminated and
cancelled in their entirety and are of no further force or effect.

                  27. Governing Law. The provisions of Agreement shall be
construed and interpreted under the laws of the State of California applicable
to agreements executed and wholly performed within the State of California. If
any provision of this Agreement as applied to any party or to any circumstance
should be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or
unenforceable for any reason, the invalidity of that provision shall in no way
affect (to the maximum extent permissible by law) the application of such
provision under circumstances different from those adjudicated by the court, the
application of any other provision of this Agreement, or the enforceability or
invalidity of this Agreement as a whole. Should any provision of this Agreement
become or be deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction by
reason of the scope, extent or duration of its coverage, then such provision
shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law so
as to be valid and enforceable or, if such provision cannot be so amended
without materially altering the intention of the parties, then such provision
will be stricken, and the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full
force and effect.

                  28. Injunctive Relief. The Executive expressly agrees that the
covenants set forth in Paragraphs 9, 10 and 18 of this Agreement are reasonable
and necessary to protect the Corporation and its legitimate business interests,
and to prevent the unauthorized dissemination of Proprietary Information to
competitors of the Corporation. The Executive also agrees that the Corporation
will be irreparably harmed and that damages alone cannot adequately compensate
the Corporation if there is a violation of Paragraphs 9, 10 or 18 of this
Agreement by the Executive, and that injunctive relief against the Executive is
essential for the protection of the Corporation. Therefore, in the event of any
such breach, it is agreed that, in addition to any other remedies available, the
Corporation shall be entitled as a matter of right to injunctive relief in any
court of competent jurisdiction, plus attorneys' fees actually incurred for the
securing of such relief. Furthermore, the Executive agrees that the Corporation
shall not be required to post a bond or other collateral security with the court
if the Corporation seeks injunctive relief.

                  29. Arbitration. Each party agrees that any and all disputes
which arise out of or relate to the Executive's employment, the termination of
the Executive's employment, or the terms of this Agreement shall be resolved
through final and binding arbitration. Such arbitration shall be in lieu of any
trial before a judge and/or jury, and the Executive and Corporation expressly
waive all rights to have such disputes resolved via trial before a judge and/or
jury. Such disputes shall include, without limitation, claims for breach of
contract or of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, claims of
discrimination, claims under any federal, state or local law or regulation now
in existence or hereinafter enacted and as amended from time to time concerning
in any way the subject of the

                                       13

<PAGE>

Executive's employment with the Corporation or its termination. The only claims
not covered by this Agreement to arbitrate disputes are: (i) claims for benefits
under the unemployment insurance benefits; (ii) claims for workers' compensation
benefits under any of the Corporation's workers' compensation insurance policy
or fund; (iii) claims arising from or relating to the non-competition provisions
of this Agreement; and (iv) claims concerning the validity, infringement,
ownership, or enforceability of any trade secret, patent right, copyright,
trademark or any other intellectual property right, and any claim pursuant to or
under any existing confidential/proprietary/trade secrets information and
inventions agreement(s) such as, but not limited to, the Proprietary Information
and Inventions Agreement. With respect to such disputes, they shall not be
subject to arbitration; rather, they will be resolved pursuant to applicable
law.

                  Arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the National
Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration
Association ("AAA Rules"), provided, however, that the arbitrator shall allow
the discovery authorized by California Code of Civil Procedure section 1282, et
seq., or any other discovery required by applicable law in arbitration
proceedings, including, but not limited to, discovery available under the
applicable state and/or federal arbitration statutes. Also, to the extent that
any of the AAA Rules or anything in this arbitration section conflicts with any
arbitration procedures required by applicable law, the arbitration procedures
required by applicable law shall govern.

                  Arbitration will be conducted in Santa Clara County,
California or, if the Executive does not reside within 100 miles of Santa Clara
County at the time the dispute arises, then the arbitration may take place in
the largest metropolitan area within 50 miles of the Executive's place of
residence when the dispute arises.

                  During the course of the arbitration, the Executive and the
Corporation will each bear equally the arbitrator's fee and any other type of
expense or cost of arbitration, unless applicable law requires otherwise, and
                  each shall bear their own respective attorneys' fees incurred
in connection with the arbitration. The arbitrator will not have authority to
award attorneys' fees unless a statute or contract at issue in the dispute
authorizes the award of attorneys' fees to the prevailing party. In such case,
the arbitrator shall have the authority to make an award of attorneys' fees as
required or permitted by the applicable statute or contract. If there is a
dispute as to whether the Executive or the Corporation is the prevailing party
in the arbitration, the arbitrator will decide this issue.

                  The arbitrator shall issue a written award that sets forth the
essential findings of fact and conclusions of law on which the award is based.
The arbitrator shall have the authority to award any relief authorized by law in
connection with the asserted claims or disputes. The arbitrator's award shall be
subject to correction, confirmation, or vacation, as provided by applicable law
setting forth the standard of judicial review of arbitration awards. Judgment
upon the arbitrator's award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof.

                  30. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in more than
one counterpart, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment
Agreement as of the day and year written above.

                                        LEGATO SYSTEMS,  INC.

                                        By: /s/ George I. Purnell
                                            -------------------------------

                                        Title: Vice President, Human Resources &
                                               Chief Learning Officer

                                            /s/ James P. Chappell
                                        -----------------------------------
                                        JAMES P. CHAPPELL

                                       14

<PAGE>

                                                                      SCHEDULE I

                            LIST OF EXCLUDED OPTIONS

          The following Options currently held by the Executive shall not be
modified pursuant to Paragraph 14(e) of the Agreement to provide the extended
twelve (12)-month exercise period following the date of his Involuntary
Termination. Accordingly, for each of the Options listed below, the Executive
shall continue to have only until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the
option term or (ii) the end of the period specified in the applicable stock
option agreement for which that Option is to remain exercisable following the
date of his termination of employment with the Corporation, including an
Involuntary Termination.

          Grant Date        Number of Option Shares            Exercise Price
          ----------        -----------------------            --------------

                                       15