<PAGE>
 
                                                                            10.8
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------


          THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of April 15,
1998, between CHIREX INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Roger B.
                                                        -------                
Pettman ("Executive").
          ---------   

                                    RECITALS
                                    --------
                                        
          Executive is presently the Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the
Company. The parties hereto desire to set forth in writing the current terms of
the Executive's employment relationship with the Company.

          In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          1.   EMPLOYMENT.
               ---------- 

          (a) The Company hereby agrees to continue its employment of Executive
to render exclusive and full time services to the Company as its Vice President,
Sales and Marketing and to perform such other duties commensurate with such
office as he shall reasonably be directed by the senior management and/or Board
of Directors of the Company, for the period specified in Section 2.

          (b) Executive hereby accepts such employment and agrees to render the
services described above to the best of his abilities in a diligent,
trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner. Executive further agrees to
accept election and to serve during all or any part of the term of this
Agreement as an officer or director of the Company and of any subsidiary or
affiliate of the Company, without any compensation therefor, other than that
specified in this Agreement or as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company or of any subsidiary or affiliate, as the case may be.

          2.   Term of Employment. The employment period of Executive by the
               ------------------                                           
Company shall commence on April 15, 1998 and end on December 31, 2000 (the
"Initial Term") unless further extended or sooner terminated as hereinafter
provided. Executive may terminate his employment during the Initial Term with
six months written notice to the Company. Commencing on December 31, 2000, and
each December 31 thereafter, the term of Executive's employment shall
automatically be extended for one additional year to, respectively, December 31,
2001, and each December 31 thereafter, unless, not later than six months prior
to the end of any renewal term, either party hereunder shall have given notice
to the other party that it does not wish to extend this Agreement. If the
Company gives Executive notice that it does not wish to extend this Agreement
during the Initial Term or any renewal term, Executive shall be entitled to the
severance payments provided in Section 4(d) hereof. As used herein the
"Employment Period" shall refer to the Initial Term and any renewal term of
Executive's employment with the Company.

          3.   BASE SALARY AND BENEFITS.
               ------------------------ 

          (a) During the Employment Period, Executive's base salary shall be
$150,000 per annum or such higher rate as the Company may designate from time to
time (the "Base Salary"), 
           -----------

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<PAGE>
 
which salary shall be payable in regular installments in accordance with the
Company's general payroll practices and shall be subject to customary
withholding. In addition, during the Employment Period, Executive shall be
entitled to participate in all of the Company's employee benefit programs for
which senior executive employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are
generally eligible.

          (b) The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable expenses
incurred by him in the course of performing his duties under this Agreement
which are consistent with the Company's policies in effect from time to time
with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to
the Company's requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such
expenses.

          (c) In addition to the Base Salary, Executive shall be eligible to
receive a bonus payable at the end of each fiscal year during the Employment
Period, which bonus shall be based upon the Company's operating results during
such year and upon Executive achieving defined specific goals and objectives
during the twelve months prior to review.

          (d) Executive may be awarded, from time to time, additional
compensation (such as stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance
shares, restricted stock or unrestricted stock) pursuant to the Company's 1997
Stock Incentive Plan or any additional or replacement incentive compensation
program established for the key employees of the Company. Any awards under such
programs shall be at such levels or in such amounts as the Board of Directors
deems, in its sole discretion, appropriate for the position occupied by
Executive and his performance therein. Subject to Section 4 herein, the terms,
conditions and rights with respect to any such grants will be subject to the
actual provisions and conditions applicable to such plans.

          4.   TERMINATION AND CHANGE OF CONTROL
               ---------------------------------

          (a) If the Executive shall die during the Employment Period, this
Agreement shall terminate, except that (i) Executive's surviving spouse or, if
none, his estate, shall be entitled to receive Executive's compensation
(including bonus) to the last day of the third calendar month following the date
of his death; and (ii) such termination shall not affect any rights which
Executive may have at the time of his death pursuant to any insurance or other
death benefit, retirement, stock option or other plans or arrangements of the
Company or of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, which rights shall
continue to be governed by the provisions of such plans and arrangements.

          (b) At the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, Executive may be
terminated if the Executive is disabled (as defined below) and shall have been
absent from his duties with the Company on a full time basis for one hundred and
eighty (180) consecutive days, and , within thirty (30) days after written
notice by the Company to do so, the Executive shall not have returned to the
performance of his duties hereunder on a full time basis. In the event of such
termination, the Company shall make to Executive the payments specified in
Section 4(d). As used herein, the term "disabled" shall (i) mean that Executive
                                        --------                               
is unable, as a result of a medically determinable physical or mental
impairment, to perform the duties and services of his position, or (ii) have the
meaning specified in any disability insurance policy maintained by the Company,
whichever is more favorable to the Executive.

          (c) The Company may, by notice to Executive, terminate Executive's
employment hereunder for cause. As used herein, "cause" shall mean (i) the
                                                 -----                    
conviction of Executive of a felony or conviction of a misdemeanor if such
misdemeanor involves moral turpitude; or (ii) Executive's voluntary engagement
in conduct constituting larceny, embezzlement, conversion or any other act
involving the misappropriation of Company funds in the course of his employment;
or (iii) the willful refusal to carry out specific directions of the Board of
Directors, which directions shall be consistent with the provisions hereof; or
(iv) Executive's committing any act of gross 

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<PAGE>
 
negligence or intentional misconduct in the performance or non-performance of
his duties as an employee of the Company; or (v) any material breach by the
Executive of any material provision of his Agreement (other than for reasons
related only to the business performance of the Company or business results
achieved by Executive). For purposes of this Section 4(c), no act or failure to
act on Executive's part shall be considered to be reason for termination for
cause if done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in good faith and with the
reasonable belief that the action or omission was in the best interests of the
Company.

          (d) Executive's employment may be terminated at any time by the
Company without cause; provided, however, that in such event Executive shall be
entitled to receive (so long as he executes and delivers the Company's standard
form of release), (i) 120% of Executive's then effective annual Base Salary, and
(ii) a cash allowance for outplacement pursuant to the Company's U.S.
Outplacement Policy. The foregoing amounts shall be payable in one lump sum
payment within five (5) days after Executive's last day of active employment. In
addition, Executive shall be entitled to continue participation in the Company's
health and other welfare benefit plans for a period of up to one year or until
Executive is covered by a successor employer's benefit plans, whichever is
sooner.

          (e) If (i) Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to
subsections (a), (b), (d), (e) or (g) of this Section 4; or (ii) a "Change in
Control" of the Company (as defined in Section 4(f) below) occurs; in either
case, all stock options, restricted stock, deferred compensation and similar
benefits which have not yet become vested on the date of termination or the date
of a Change in Control, as the case shall be, will become vested upon such
event, and Executive shall be permitted to exercise all such rights in
accordance with the administrative provisions of those plans, and in the case of
a Change of Control, whether or not Executive remains employed with the Company
or terminates his employment in accordance with this subsection (e). If a Change
in Control event involves a tender offer for all or part of the Company's
shares, the vesting date for stock options and restricted stock pursuant to this
subsection (e) shall be a date which permits Executive to participate in such
tender offer with such stock options or restricted shares. In addition, if a
Change in Control occurs, Executive may, after such Change in Control, terminate
his employment with the Company for any reason after the expiry of ninety (90)
days immediately following the effective date of such Change in Control, in
which event Executive shall be entitled to the payments specified in Section
4(d) above and to the other rights described elsewhere in this Agreement.

          (f) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the
                                                 -----------------        
Company shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) any person (as such term is
used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934)
becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of Company securities
representing 30% or more of the capital stock of the Company; or (ii)
individuals who constitute the Company's Board of Directors as of the date of
this Agreement (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at
                     --------- -----                                        
least a majority thereof, provided, however, that any person becoming a director
subsequent to the date of this Agreement whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least 51%
of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by
approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as
a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be, for the
purpose of this clause (ii), considered as though such person were a member of
the Incumbent Board; or (iii) the Company's shareholders approve a merger or
consolidation (where in either case the Company is not the survivor thereof) in
which shareholders of the Company cease to own at least 80% of the surviving
entity's voting power, or a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of
the Company's assets or a plan of partial or complete liquidation of the
Company.

          (g) Executive's employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good
Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean: (i) the
assignment to Executive 

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<PAGE>
 
of any duties inconsistent in any respect with Executive's position (including
status, offices, titles, and reporting requirements), authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 1(a) hereof, or any other action by
the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or
responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and
inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company
promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by Executive; (ii) any failure by
the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 3 hereof, other than
an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith
and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof
given by Executive; (iii) any purported termination by the Company of
Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement;
or (iv) any failure by the Company to obtain an express assumption of this
Agreement by a successor as required pursuant to Section 15 hereof. For purposes
of this Section 4(g), any good faith determination of "Good Reason" made by
Executive shall be conclusive. Upon any termination pursuant to this subsection
(g), Executive shall be entitled to the payment specified in Section 4(d) hereof
and to the other rights described therein (subject to his compliance therewith).

          (h) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company to
or for the benefit of Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but
determined without regard to any additional payments required under this
subsection (h)) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or
any interest or penalties are incurred by Executive with respect to such excise
tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), the Company shall pay
to Executive at the time specified in subparagraph (k) below an additional
amount (a "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount retained by Executive,
after deduction of any Excise Tax on a Payment and any federal (and state and
local) income tax (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto),
employment tax and Excise Tax on a Payment, shall be equal to the amount of all
the Payments.

          (i) For purposes of the foregoing subparagraph (h), the proper
amounts, if any, of the Excise Tax and the Gross-Up Payment shall be determined
in the first instance by the Company. Such determination by the Company shall be
communicated in writing by the Company to Executive at least fourteen (14) days
prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control. Within ten (10) days of being
provided with written notice of any such determination, Executive may provide
written notice to the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company of any disagreement, in which event the amounts, if
any, of the Excise Tax and the Gross-Up Payment shall be determined by tax
counsel mutually selected by the Company and Executive. The determination of the
Company (or in the event of disagreement, the tax counsel selected) shall be
final and nonreviewable.

          (j) For purposes of determining whether any of the Payments will be
subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax under subparagraph
(h), the following principles will be applicable:

          (A)  Any payments or benefits received or to be received by Executive
               in connection with a termination of employment shall be treated
               as "parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2)
               of the Code, and all "excess parachute payments" within the
               meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code shall be treated as
               subject to the Excise Tax unless in the opinion of tax counsel
               mutually selected by the parties pursuant to subsection (i)
               above, such other payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do
               not constitute parachute payments, or such excess parachute
               payments (in whole or in part) represents reasonable compensation
               for services actually rendered within the 

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<PAGE>
 
               meaning of Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code in excess of the base
               amount within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code, or
               are otherwise subject to the Excise Tax; and

          (b)  The value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or
               benefit shall be determined in accordance with Section 280G(d)(3)
               and (4) of the Code. For purposes of determining the amount of
               the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal
               income taxes at the highest marginal rate of tax in the calendar
               year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and
               local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of tax in the
               state and locality of Executive's residence on the date of
               termination, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes
               which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local
               taxes.

          (k)  The Payments provided for in subparagraph (h) shall be made in a
cash, lump-sum payment, net of any required tax withholdings, upon the later of
(i) the fifth business day following the effective date of termination, or (ii)
the calculation of the amount of the Gross-Up Payment under subparagraph (i).
Any Payment required hereunder that is not made in a timely manner shall bear
interest at a rate equal to one-hundred twenty percent (120%) of the monthly
compounded applicable federal rate, as in effect under Section 1274(d) of the
Code for the month in which Payment is otherwise required to be made.

          5.   CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
               ------------------------ 

          (a)  Executive acknowledges and agrees that the information,
observations and data obtained by him while employed by the Company and its
subsidiaries concerning the business or affairs of the Company or any other
subsidiary ("Confidential Information") are the property of the Company or such
             ------------------------                                          
subsidiary. Therefore, Executive agrees to keep secret and retain in the
strictest confidence all Confidential Information, including without limitation,
trade "know-how" secrets, customer lists, pricing policies, operational methods,
technical processes, formulae, inventions and research projects and other
business affairs of the Company, learned by him prior to or after the date of
this Agreement, and not to disclose them to anyone outside the Company, either
during or after his employment with the Company, except (i) in the course of
performing his duties hereunder; (ii) with the Company's express written
consent; (iii) to the extent that the Confidential Information becomes generally
known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of
Executive's acts or omissions; or (iv) where required to be disclosed by court
order, subpoena or other government process. If Executive shall be required to
make disclosure pursuant to the provisions of clause (iv) of the preceding
sentence, Executive promptly, but in no event more than 48 hours after learning
of such subpoena, court order or other governmental process, shall notify the
Company, by personal delivery or fax (pursuant to Section 10 hereof), and, at
the Company's expense, shall take all reasonably necessary steps requested by
the Company to defend against the enforcement of such subpoena, court order or
other governmental process and permit the Company to intervene and participate
with counsel of its own choice in any related proceeding.

          (b)  Executive shall deliver to the Company at the termination of his
employment, or at any other time the Company may request, all memoranda, notes,
plans, records, reports, computer tapes, printouts and software and other
documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential
Information, Work Product (as defined below) or the business of the Company or
any subsidiary which he may then possess or have under his control.

          6.   INVENTIONS AND PATENTS. Executive acknowledges that all
               ----------------------                                 
inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses,
drawings, reports and all similar or related information (whether or not
patentable) which relate to the Company's or any of its subsidiaries' actual or
anticipated business, research and development or existing or future 

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
products or services and which are conceived, developed or made by Executive
while employed by the Company or its predecessor and its subsidiaries ("Work
                                                                        ----
Product") belong to the Company or such subsidiary. Executive shall promptly
-------
disclose such Work Product to the Board and perform all actions reasonably
requested by the Board (whether during or after his employment) to establish and
confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents,
powers of attorney and other instruments).

          7.   INDEMNIFICATION. The Company will indemnify Executive and his
               ---------------                                              
legal representatives, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State
of Delaware and the existing by-laws of the Company or any other applicable laws
or the provisions of any other corporate document of the Company, and Executive
shall be entitled to the protection of any insurance policies the Company may
elect to obtain generally for the benefit of its directors and officers, against
all costs, charges and expenses whatsoever incurred or sustained by him or his
legal representatives in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which
he or his legal representatives may be made a party by reason of him being or
having been a director or officer of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries
or affiliates or actions taken purportedly on behalf of the Company or of any of
its subsidiaries or affiliates.

          8.   NON-COMPETE, NON-SOLICITATION. In further consideration of the
               -----------------------------                                 
compensation to be paid to Executive hereunder, Executive acknowledges that
during his employment with the Company he has become familiar with the Company's
trade secrets and with other Confidential Information concerning the Company and
its predecessors and its subsidiaries and that his services have been and shall
be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its
subsidiaries. Therefore, Executive agrees that, during the Employment Period and
for six months thereafter (the "Noncompete Period"), he shall not, directly or
                                -----------------                             
indirectly, own any interest in, manage, control, participate in, consult with,
render services for, or in any manner engage in any business competing with the
businesses of the Company or its subsidiaries, as such businesses exist or are
in process on the date of the termination of Executive's employment. Nothing
herein shall prohibit Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 2%
of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded,
so long as Executive has no active participation in the business of such
corporation.

          (b) During the Noncompete Period, Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee
or director of the Company or any subsidiary to leave the employ or board of the
Company or such subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship
between the Company or any subsidiary and any employee or director thereof, (ii)
induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, licensor,
franchisee or other business relation of the Company or any subsidiary to cease
doing business with the Company or such subsidiary, or in any way interfere with
the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business
relation and the Company or any subsidiary (including, without limitation,
making any negative statements or communications about the Company or its
subsidiaries).

          (c) If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 8, a court shall
hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are
unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the
maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be
substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall be
allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period,
scope and area permitted by law. Executive agrees that the restrictions
contained in this Section 8 are reasonable.

          (d) In the event of the breach or a threatened breach by Executive of
any of the provisions of this Section 8, the Company, in addition and
supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, may apply to
any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance
and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations
of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security). In
addition, in the event of an 

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<PAGE>
 
alleged breach or violation by Executive of this Section 8, the Noncompete
Period shall be extended until such breach or violation has been duly cured.

          9.   EXECUTIVE'S REPRESENTATIONS. Executive hereby represents and
               ---------------------------                                 
warrants to the Company that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by Executive do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or
cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or
decree to which Executive is a party or by which he is bound, and (ii) upon the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be
the valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with
its terms. Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that he has consulted
with independent legal counsel regarding his rights and obligations under this
Agreement and that he fully understands the terms and conditions contained
herein.

          10.  NOTICES. Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in
               -------                                                       
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally with
receipt acknowledged or sent by registered or certified mail or equivalent, if
available, postage prepaid, or by fax (which shall be confirmed by a writing
sent by registered or certified mail or equivalent on the same day that such fax
was sent), addressed to the parties at the following addresses or to such other
address as such party shall hereafter specify by notice to the other:

          Notices to Executive:          Roger Pettman
          --------------------                        
                                         [DELETED]

          Notices to the Company:        ChiRex Inc.
          ----------------------               
                                         300 Atlantic Street
                                         Suite 402
                                         Stamford, Connecticut 06901
                                         (203) 351-2300 (Phone)
                                         (203) 425-9996 (Fax)
                                         Attention: General Counsel

          11.  SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
               ------------                                                     
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

          12.  COMPLETE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the complete
               ------------------                                         
agreement and understanding among the parties and supersedes and preempts any
prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties,
written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

          13.  NO STRICT CONSTRUCTION. The language used in this Agreement shall
               ----------------------                                           
be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their
mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any
party.

          14.  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in separate
               ------------                                            
counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together constitute one and the same agreement.

          15.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement is intended to bind and
               ----------------------                                        
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, the Company and their
respective heirs, successors and 

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
assigns, except that Executive may not assign his rights or delegate his
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company. The
Company will require any successor to all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.

          16.  CHOICE OF LAW. All issues and questions concerning the
               -------------                                         
construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the
exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of
law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of
the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

          17.  AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. The provisions of this Agreement may be
               --------------------                                         
amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and
Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the
provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement.

          18.  ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating
               -----------                                                     
to this Agreement, the making, interpretation or the breach thereof, other than
(a) a claim solely for injunctive relief for any alleged breach of the
provisions of Sections 5 and/or 8 as to which the parties shall have the right
to apply for specific performance to any court having equity jurisdiction; and
(b) the determination of Excise Tax and Gross-Up Payment pursuant to Section 4
herein; shall be settled by arbitration in New York City by one arbitrator in
accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association and judgement upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be
entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof and any party to the
arbitration may, if he elects, institute proceedings in any court having
jurisdiction for the specific performance of any such award. The powers of the
arbitrator shall include, but not be limited to, the awarding of injunctive
relief.

          19.  LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES. The Company shall reimburse Executive
               -----------------------                                       
for all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by Executive in connection
with (a) review and/or any claims made regarding the Company's determination of
Excise Tax and Gross-Up Amount pursuant to Section 4 herein, or (b) any
arbitration proceeding brought under this Agreement pursuant to Section 18,
where the arbitration is concluded in Executive's favor.

          20.  NO MITIGATION OR SET-OFF. The provisions of this Agreement are
               ------------------------                                      
not intended to, nor shall they be construed to require that Executive mitigate
the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking or accepting
other employment, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this
Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of his
employment by another employer or otherwise. The Company's obligations to make
the payments to Executive required under this Agreement, and otherwise to
perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action that the
Company may have against Executive.

                        * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.


                                             CHIREX INC.


                                             /s/ Michael A. Griffith
                                             ------------------------
                                             By:  Michael A. Griffith
                                                  Chief Financial Officer



                                             /s/ Roger B. Pettman
                                             ------------------------
                                             ROGER B. PETTMAN

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