Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.16

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT made as of December 1, 1997, by and between
COMMONWEALTH BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Virginia corporation (the "Employer"), and
James H. Brennan (the "Employee").

         In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the Employer
and the Employee agree as follows:

         1. Employment. The Employer agrees to employ the Employee and the
Employee agrees to enter into the employ of the Employer on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth. The Employee shall serve the Employer in such
capacities as may be prescribed from time to time by the President of the
Employer.

         2. Effective Date and Term. The commencement date of this Agreement
shall be as of December 1, 1997 (the "Commencement Date"). Subject to the
provisions of Section 5, the term of the Employee's employment hereunder shall
be for one year from the Commencement Date; provided, however, that the term
shall be extended automatically for as additional period of one year commencing
on the first anniversary of the Commencement Date and on each subsequent
anniversary thereafter, unless either the Employee or the Employer gives written
notice to the other, at least 30 days prior to the date of any such anniversary,
of such party's election not to extend the terms of this Agreement. The last day
of such term as so extended from tune to lima, is herein sometimes referred to
as the "Expiration Date."

         3. Compensation and Benefits. The regular compensation and benefits
payable to the Employee under this Agreement shall be as follows:

            (a) For all services rendered by the Employee under this Agreement
the Employer shall pay the Employee a total salary at the rate of $65,000 per
year, subject to increase from time to time in accordance with the usual
practice of the Employer with respect review of compensation of its employees.
The Employee's salary shall be payable in periodic installments in accordance
with the Employer's usual practice for its employees.

            (b) Stock Options. The Employee shall be eligible for Stock Options,
if any, in an amount to be determined as recommended by the Employer Management
(the Employee Directors), but at the sole discretion of the Compensation
Committee of the Employer's Board of Directors.

            (c) Annual Bonus. For each complete calendar year ending during the
term hereof, the Employee shall be entitled to a cash bonus (the "Bonus") (the
"Bonus's equal to 0.5% of the cumulative earnings before taxes ("Pre-Tax
Earnings") (as defined below) of the Employer during each complete calendar year
hereof, commencing with the calendar year, 1998.

                (i) Calculation of Payment. The Employer shall calculate and pay
the Bonus for each year within 30 days after the Company's receipt from its
independent auditor of

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audited financial statements for each calendar year (the "Audit Release Date"),
should any Bonus be due.

The Employer shall provide to the Employee concurrently with the payment of the
Bonus or, if the Employer determines that no Bonus is due in respect of a year
during the term of this Agreement, then within 30 days following the Audit
Release Date, a statement of its Chief Financial Officer (or other appropriate
Officer of the Company designated by the President), regarding the calculation
of the Bonus payable with respect to such year. Such statement shall provide
such computations and set forth such detail as is reasonably necessary to
substantiate the calculation of Pre-Tax Earnings and the amount of the Bonus
payable with respect to such year.

                (ii) Pre-Tax Earnings. Pretax earnings shall mean for any year
of the Employer, the net income of the Employer for such year determined by the
Employer's auditors on a stand-alone basis in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied plus, to the extent deducted in
determining net income and without duplication, total income tax expenses,
including for this purpose any amounts paid under a tax-sharing or similar
agreement or arrangement in lieu of such taxes; minus to the extent including in
determining net income and without duplication, any extraordinary gains.

            (d) Regular Benefits. The Employee shall also be entitled to
participate in any and all employee benefit plans from time to time in effect
for employees of the Employer. Such participation shall be subject to (i) the
terms of the applicable plan documents, (ii) generally applicable policies of
the Employer and (iii) the discretion of the Management and Board of Directors
of the Employer or any administrative or other committee provided for in or
contemplated by such plan.

            (e) Business Expenses. The Employer shall reimburse the Employer for
all reasonable, pre-approved travel and other business expenses incurred by him
in the performance of his duties and responsibilities, subject to such
reasonable requirements with respect to substantiation and documentation as may
be specified by the Employer.

            (f) Vacation. The Employee shall be entitled to such number of weeks
of vacation per year as shall be provided for in the Employer's employee
handbook as the same shall be modified from time to time, to be taken at such
times and intervals as shall be determined by the Employee with the approval of
the Employer, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

         4. Extent of Service. During his employment hereunder, the Employee
shall, subject to the direction and supervision of the President of the
Employer, devote his full business time, best efforts and business judgment,
skill and knowledge to the advancement of the Employer's interests and to the
discharge of his duties and responsibilities hereunder. He shall not engage in
any other business activity, except as may be approved by the President of the
Employer.

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         5. Termination and Termination Benefits.

            Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2, the Employee's
employment hereunder shall terminate under the following circumstances and shall
be subject to the follow provisions:

            (a) Death. In the event of the Employee's death during the
Employee's employment hereunder, the Employee's employment shall terminate on
the date of his death.

            (b) Termination by the Employer for Cause. The Employee's employment
hereunder may be terminated without further liability on the part of the
Employer effective immediately by a vote of the Management of the Employer for
Cause by written notice to the Employee setting forth in reasonable detail the
nature of such Cause. Only the following shall constitute "Cause" for such
termination:

                (i) gross incompetence, gross negligence, willful misconduct in
office or breach of a material fiduciary duty owed to the Employer or any
subsidiary or affiliate thereof;

                (ii) conviction of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude or
commission of an act of embezzlement or fraud against the Employer or any
subsidiary or affiliate thereof;

                (iii) any material breach by the Employee of a material term of
this Agreement, including without limitation material failure to perform a
substantial portion of his duties and responsibilities hereunder; or

                (iv) deliberate dishonesty of the Employee with respect to the
Employer or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof.

            (c) Termination by the Employer Without Cause. The Employee's
employment with the Employer may be terminated without Cause by the Management
of the Employer effective 30 days after the giving of written notice to the
Employee.

            (d) Termination Benefits. Except as expressly provided in Section 6
with respect to disability, or as may be required by applicable law, the
Employee shall not be entitled to any benefits in connection with the
termination of this Agreement.

            (e) Litigation and Regulatory Cooperation. During the term of this
Agreement and the period in which the Employee is subject to the obligations in
Section 7, the Employee shall cooperate fully with the Employer in the defense
or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be brought
in the future against or on behalf of the Employer which relate to events or
occurrences that transpired while the Employee was employed by the Employer. The
Employee's full cooperation in connection with such claims or actions shall
include, but not be limited to, being available to meet with counsel to prepare
for discovery or trial and to act as a witness on behalf of the Employer at
mutually convenient times. The Employee shall also cooperate fully with the
Employer in connection with any examination

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or review of any federal or state regulatory authority as any such examination
or review relates to events or occurrences that transpired while the Employee
was employed by the Employer. If such cooperation is required after the Employee
ceases to receive cash compensation from the Employer under Section 3 or Section
6, the Employer shall pay the Employee for such cooperation a fee of twenty five
dollars ($25.00) per hour, payable monthly in arrears, and will reimburse the
Employee for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection
therewith.

         6. Disability. If, due to physical or mental illness, the Employee
shall be disabled so as to be unable to perform substantially all of his duties
and responsibilities hereunder, which disability lasts for as uninterrupted
period of at least 90 days or a total of at least 180 days in any calendar year
(as determined by the opinion of an independent physician selected by the
Employer), the Employer may designate another Employee to act in his place
during the period of such disability. Notwithstanding any such designation, the
Employee shall continue to receive his full salary and benefits under Section 3
of this Agreement until he becomes eligible for disability income under the
Employer's disability income plan.

         7. Noncompetition and Confidential Information.

            (a) Noncompetition. During the term of this Agreement and a period
of six months following the date of termination of the Employee's employment
with the Employer by the Employee, the Employee will not, directly or
indirectly, whether individually or as an owner, partner, shareholder,
consultant, agent, employee, or co-venturer, work in a biotechnology service and
support facility, in the United States of America, which is in documentable
direct commercial competition with the Employer's business of providing
analytical services to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and agricultural
industries or any other business conducted by the Employer during the period of
his employment hereunder, nor will he attempt to hire any employee of the
Employer, assist in or recommend such hiring by any other Person, encourage any
such employee to terminate his or her relationship with the Employer, or solicit
or encourage any customer of the Employer to terminate its relationship with the
Employer or to conduct with any other Person any business or activity which such
customer conducts or could conduct with the Employer. This Section 7 shall not
preclude the Employee from owning 5% or less of the outstanding stock of any
company that has securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

            (b) Confidential Information. The Employee agrees and acknowledges
that, by reason of his employment by and service to the Employer, he has had and
will have access to confidential information of the Employer (and its
affiliates, vendors, customers, and others having business dealings with it)
including, without limitation, information and knowledge pertaining to products
and services, sales and profit figures, customer and client lists and
information related to relationships between the Employer and its affiliates,
customers, vendors, and others having business dealings with it (collectively,
the "Confidential Information"). The Employee acknowledges that the Confidential
Information is a valuable and unique asset of the Employer (and its affiliates,
venders, customers, and others having business dealing, with it) and covenants
that, both during and after the term of his employment by the Employer, he will
not

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disclose any Confidential Information to any person or use any Confidential
Information (except as his duties as an employee of the Employer may require)
without the prior written authorization of the Board of Directors of the
Employer. The Employee further agrees that all files, computer programs and
files, letters, memoranda, reports, records, data, sketches, drawings, program
listings or other written, photographic, or other tangible material containing
Confidential Information, whether created by the Employee or others, which shall
come into his custody or possession, shall be and are the exclusive property of
the Employer to be used by the Employee only in the performance of his duties
for the Employer. All such records or copies thereof and all tangible property
of the Employer in the custody or possession of the Employee shall be delivered
to the Employer, upon the earlier of (i) a request by the Employer or (ii)
termination of the Employee's employment. After such delivery, the Employee
shall not retain any such records or copies thereof or any such tangible
property. The obligation of confidentiality imposed by this Section shall not
apply to information that is required by law, regulation or judicial or
governmental authorities to be disclosed or that otherwise becomes part of the
public domain by means not involving a breach of a covenant of confidentiality
owed to the Employer.

            (c) Rights and Remedies Upon Breach. If the Employee breaches, or
threatens to commit a breach of, any of provisions of Section 7 hereof
(collectively, the "Restrictive Covenants"), the Employer shall have the
following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be
independent of the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights and
remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and
remedies available to Employer under law or in equity:

                (i) Specific Performance. The Employee recognizes and agrees
that the violation of the Restrictive Covenants may not be reasonably or
adequately compensated in damages and that, in addition to any other relief to
which the Employer may be entitled by reason of such violation, it shall also be
entitled to permanent and temporary injunctive and equitable relief and, pending
determination of any dispute with respect to such violation, no bond or security
shall be required in connection therewith. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Employee specifically acknowledges that showing by the
Employer of any breach of any provision of any Restrictive Covenant shall
constitute, for the purposes of all judicial determinations of the issue of
injunctive relief, conclusive proof of all of the elements necessary to entitle
the Employer to interim and permanent injunctive relief against the Employee
with respect to such breach. If any dispute arises with respect to this Section
7, without limiting in any way any other rights or remedies to which the
Employer may be entitled, the Employee agrees that the Restrictive Covenants
shall be enforceable by a decree of specific performance.

                (ii) Accountings. The Employer shall have the right and remedy
to require the Employee to account for and pay over to the Employer all
compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits
(collectively, "Benefits") derived or received by the Employee as the result of
any transactions constituting a breach of any of the Restrictive Covenants, and
the Employee shall account for and pay overall such Benefits to the Employer.

            (d) Severability of Covenants. If any of the Restrictive Covenants,
or any part thereof, or any of the other provisions of this Section 7 is held by
a court of competent

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jurisdiction or any other governmental authority to be invalid, void,
unenforceable or against public policy for any reason, the remainder of the
Restrictive Covenants or such other provision shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and such court
or authority shall be empowered to substitute, to the extent enforceable,
provisions similar thereto or other provisions so as to provide to the Employer
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the benefits intended by such
provisions.

             (e) Enforceability in Jurisdictions. The parties intend to and
hereby confer jurisdiction to enforce the Restrictive Covenants and the other
provision of this Section 7 upon the courts of any jurisdiction within the
geographical scope of such Restrictive Covenants or other provisions, as the
case may be. If the courts of any one or more of such jurisdictions hold the
Restrictive Covenants or other provisions, as the case may be, wholly invalid or
unenforceable by reason of the breadth or scope or otherwise, it is the
intention of the parties that such determination not bar or in any way affect
the Employer's right to the relief provided above in the courts of any other
jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such Restrictive Covenant or other
provisions, as the case maybe, as they relate to each jurisdiction being, for
this purpose, severable into diverse and independent covenants.

             (f) Definition and Survival. For purposes of this Section 7 only,
the term "Employer" shall mean Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. and any of its
subsidiaries and affiliates. All provisions of this Section 7 shall survive
termination of this Agreement.

         8.  Conflicting Agreements. The Employee hereby represents and warrants
that the execution of this Agreement and the performance of his obligations
hereunder will not breach or be in conflict with any other agreement to which he
is a party or by which he is bound, and that he is not subject to any covenants
against competition or similar covenants which would affect the performance of
his obligations hereunder.

         9.  Definition of "Person". For all purposes of this Agreement, the
term "Person" shall mean an individual, a corporation, an association, a
partnership, an estate, a trust and any other entity or organization.

         10. Withholding. All payments made by the Employer under this Agreement
shall be net of any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Employer
under applicable law.

         11. Arbitration of Disputes. Any controversy or claim arising out of or
relating to employment relationship between the Employee and the Employer, this
Agreement or any breach thereof other than a controversy or claim relating to
Section 7 of this Agreement, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with
the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia by three arbitrators, one of whom shall
be appointed by the Employer, one by the Employee and the third by the first two
arbitrators. If the first two arbitrators cannot agree on the appointment of a
third arbitrator, then the third arbitrator shall be appointed by the American
Arbitration Association in the City of Richmond. Such arbitration shall be
conducted in the City of Richmond in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association, except with respect to the selection of arbitrators
which shall be as provided in this Section 11. Judgment upon the award rendered
by the

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arbitrators maybe entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The party
against whom the arbitrators shall render as award shall pay the other party's
reasonable attorneys' fees and other reasonable costs and expenses is connection
with the enforcement of its rights under this Agreement (including the
enforcement of any arbitration award in court), unless and to the extent the
arbitrators shall determine that under the circumstances recovery by the
prevailing party of all or a part of any such fees and costs and expenses would
be unjust.

         12. Assignment; Successors and Assigns, etc. Neither the Employer nor
the Employee may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest herein,
by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other
party; provided, however, that the Employer may assign its rights under this
Agreement without the consent of the Employee in the event that the Employer
shall hereafter effect a reorganization, consolidate with or merge info any
other Person, or transfer all or substantially all of its properties or assets
to any other Person. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the Employer and the Employee, their respective successors, executors,
administrators, heirs and permitted assigns. In the event of the Employee's
death prior to the completion by the Employer of all payments due him under this
Agreement, the Employer shall continue such payments to the Employee's
beneficiary designated in writing to the Employer prior to his death (or to his
estate, if he fails to make such designation).

         13. Enforceability. If any portion or provision of this Agreement shall
to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such
portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so
declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each
portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the
fullest extent permitted by law.

         14. Waiver. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless
made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The failure of any party to
require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the
waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any
subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any
subsequent breach.

         15. Notices. Any notices, request, demands and other communications
provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered
in person or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (in which
case notice shall be deemed to have been given on the third day after mailing),
or by overnight delivery by a reliable overnight courier service (in which case
notice shall be deemed to have been given on the day after delivery to such
courier service) to the Employee at the last address the Employee has filed in
writing with the Employer or, in the case of the Employer, at its main offices,
attention of the President.

         16. Entire Agreement, Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or
modified only by a written instrument approved by the Management or the Board of
Directors of the Employer and the Compensation Committee thereof, signed by the
Employee and by a duly authorized representative of the Employer who is the
Chairman of the Board or President or an

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Employee Vice President of the Employer and who is not the Employee. This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof and no agreements or representations, oral or
otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have
been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

         17. Governing Law. This is a Virginia contract and shall be construed
under and be governed in all respects by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, without giving effect to the choice of law principles of any state.

         18. Legal Counsel. This Agreement has been prepared by the Company,
with the consent of the Employee. The Employee has reviewed the contents of this
Agreement and fully understands its terms. The Employee acknowledges that he is
fully aware of his right to the advice of counsel independent from that of the
Company, that the Company has advised him of such right and disclosed to him the
risks in not seeking such independent advice, and that he understands the
potentially adverse interests of the parties with respect to this Agreement. The
Employee further acknowledges that no representations have been made with
respect to the income or estate tax or other consequences of this Agreement to
him and that he has been advised of the importance of seeking independent advice
of counsel with respect to such consequences.

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed 85 a sealed
instrument by the Employer, by its duly authorized officer, and by the Employee,
as of the date first above written.

                                              COMMONWEALTH BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                              By:  /s/ Robert B. Harris
                                                   -----------------------------

                                              Title:  President

                                              Date:     11/18/97
                                                       ----------

                                              /s/ James H. Brennan
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              James H. Brennan

                                              Date:     11/21/97
                                                       ----------

                                              Address: 8602 Royal Birkdale Drive
                                                       Chesterfield, VA 23832

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

                          OFFICER'S SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

     This Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of April 10, 2000 between
Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the "Company"), and
James R Brennan (the "Officer").

     1. Purpose. The Company considers the establishment and maintenance of a
sound and vital management to be essential to protecting and enhancing the best
interests of Company and its shareholders. In this connection, the Company
recognizes that the possibility of a Change in Control (as defined herein) may
arise and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions it may raise
among its officers, may result in the departure or distraction of its officers
to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Company
has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to encourage the continued
attention and dedication of the Company's officers to their assigned duties
without distraction in circumstances arising from the possibility of a Change in
Control of the Company. In particular, the Company believes it important, should
the Company or its shareholders receive a proposal for transfer of control of
the Company, that the Officer be able to assess and advise the Company whether
such proposal would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders
and to take such other action regarding such proposal as the Company might
determine to be appropriate, without being influenced by the uncertainties of
the Officer's own situation. The execution of this Agreement is an integral
element of the employment relationship between the Company and the Officer and
the Officer's agreement to remain in the employ of the Company. However, nothing
in this Agreement shall be construed as creating an express or implied contract
of employment and, except as provided in the Employment Agreement (as defined
below) or as otherwise agreed in writing between the Officer and the Company,
the Officer shall not have any right to be retained in the employ of the
Company.

     2. Coordination with Employment Agreement.

        (a) The Company and the Officer have entered into an Employment
Agreement dated November 21, 1997 (the "Employment Agreement"). Pursuant to such
Employment Agreement, the Company agreed to employ the Officer and the Officer
agreed to be employed by the Company as Controller until the Expiration Date (as
such term is defined in the Employment Agreement).

        (b) Notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, the Employment
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. To the extent that any
provision of any other agreement between any or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates and the Officer (including, without limitation, the Employment
Agreement), shall limit, qualify, or be inconsistent with any provision of this
Agreement, then for purposes of this Agreement, while the same shall remain in
force, the provision of such other agreement shall be deemed to have been
superseded, and to be of no force or effect, as if such other agreement had been
formally amended to the extent necessary to accomplish this purpose.

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     3. Terms of Agreement. This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof
(the "Commencement Date") and shall continue until the fifth anniversary of the
Commencement Date; provided, however, that commencing on the fifth anniversary
of the Commencement Date and on each anniversary of the Commencement Date
thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall automatically be extended for one
year unless at least 30 days prior to such anniversary date, the Company or the
Officer shall have given notice that this Agreement shall not be extended; and
provided further that, notwithstanding the delivery of any such notice, this
Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of 60 months after a Change in
Control of the Company if such Change in Control shall have occurred while this
Agreement is in effect. The Company may not give notice of an election not to
extend before December 31, 2000. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3 to
the contrary, this Agreement shall terminate if the Officer or the Company
terminates the Officer's employment prior to a Change in Control of the Company.

     4. Change in Control. For all purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in
Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events or
circumstances subsequent to the date of this Agreement, it being agreed that no
circumstance or event occurring on or before the date of this Agreement shall
constitute a Change in Control:

        (a) The acquisition of Common Stock in the Company, other than from the
Company, by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) of 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under an employee benefits plan of the Company (a "Person"), who was not a
beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of 50% or more of such securities prior to the IPO Date of the
Company, of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of either the then outstanding
shares of Stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Company into vote generally in the election
of directors (collectively, the "Voting Securities") but excluding for this
purpose, any such acquisition by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or
any corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 50%
of the then outstanding shares of Voting Securities of such is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by the individuals and entities who were the
beneficial owners of Voting Securities of the Company immediately prior to such
acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately
prior to such acquisition, of the then outstanding shares of Voting Securities
of the Company; or

        (b) Individuals who, immediately following the closing on the date of
the Company's sale of $3 million principal amount of Convertible Subordinated
Notes, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason, other
than their resignation from the Board or failure to stand for re-election to the
Board, to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that
any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election,
or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote
of at least two-thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent
Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened
election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A

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promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation
of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

          (c) There occurs any acquisition, merger or consolidation of the
Company, by, with or into any other corporation (other than a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company) and individuals who are directors of the Company
immediately prior to the time the agreement of acquisition, merger or
consolidation is executed shall fail to constitute a majority of the Board
Directors of the survivor or successor company at any time after consummation of
the transaction; or

          (d) There occurs a sale or disposition by the Company of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets and individuals who are directors of
the Company immediately prior to the time of this agreement of acquisition,
merger or consolidation is executed shall fail to constitute a majority of the
board of directors of the acquiring company at any time after consummation of
the transaction; or

          (e) There occurs a change of control of the Company of a nature that
would be required to be reported, in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of
Regulation 14A promulgated under the Act, in a Form 8-K filed under the Act or
in any other filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

          (f) Notwithstanding anything in subsections (a)-(f) of this Section 4
to the contrary, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred for
purposes of this Agreement by virtue of any transaction which results in the
Officer, or a group of Persons which includes the Officer, acquiring directly or
indirectly, 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Voting Securities.

     5.   Termination Following Change in Control. If any of the events
described in Section 4 hereof constituting a Change in Control of the Company
shall have occurred, the Officer shall be entitled to the benefits provided in
Section 6 hereof upon the termination of the Officer's employment with the
Company within sixty (60) months after such Change in Control, unless such
termination is (a) because of death of the Officer, (b) by the Company for Cause
or Disability or (c) by the Officer other than during the Window Period or for
Good Reason (as all such capitalized terms are hereinafter defined).

          (a) Disability. Termination by the Company of the Officer's employment
based on "Disability" shall mean termination, because of the Officer's inability
to perform his duties with the Company on a full time basis for 90 consecutive
days or a total of at least 180 days in any calendar year as a result of the
Officer's incapacity due to physical or mental illness (as determined by an
independent physician selected by the Board of Directors of the Company).

          (b) Cause. Termination by the Company of the Officer's for "Cause"
shall mean termination for:

              (i) gross incompetence, gross negligence, willful misconduct in
office

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or breach material fiduciary duty owed to the Company or any subsidiary or
affiliate thereof;

               (ii)  conviction of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude or
commission of an act of embezzlement or fraud against the Company or any
subsidiary or affiliate thereof;

               (iii) any material breach by the Officer of a material term of
this Agreement, including without limitation material failure to perform a
substantial portion of his duties and responsibilities hereunder; or

               (iv)  deliberate dishonesty of the Officer with respect to the
Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof.

          (c)  Good Reason. Termination by the Officer of his employment for
"Good Reason" shall mean termination based on:

               (i)   a determination by the Officer, in his reasonable judgment,
that there has been a material adverse change in the Officer's status or
position(s) as an Officer of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the
Change in Control, including, without limitation, any material adverse change in
his status or position as a result of a diminution in his duties or
responsibilities (other than, if applicable, any such change directly
attributable to the fact that the Company shall cease to be publicly owned) or
the assignment to the Officer of any duties or responsibilities which are
inconsistent with such status or position(s), or any removal of the Officer
from, or any failure to reappoint or reelect the Officer to, such positions(s)
(except in connection with the termination of the Officer's employment for Cause
or Disability or as a result of the Officer's death or by the Officer other than
for Good reason) but excluding any failure to nominate the Officer to the Board;

               (ii)  a reduction by the Company in the Officer's base salary as
in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;

               (iii) the failure by the Company to continue in effect any Plan
(as hereinafter defined in which the Officer is participating at the time of the
Change in Control of the Company (or Plans providing Officer with at least
substantially similar benefits) other than as result of the normal expiration of
any such Plan in accordance with its terms as in effect at the time of the
Change in Control, or the taking of any action, or the failure to act, by the
Company which would adversely affect the Officer's continued participation in
any of such Plans on a substantially similar basis to the Officer as is the case
on the date of the Change in Control, or which would materially reduce the
Officer's benefits in the future under any of such Plans or deprive the Officer
of any material benefit enjoyed by the Officer at the time of the Change in
Control;

               (iv)  the failure by the Company to provide and credit the
Officer with the number of paid vacation days to which the Officer is then
entitled in accordance with Company's normal vacation policy as at effect
immediately prior to the Change in Control;

                                       4

<PAGE>

               (v)    the Company's requiring the Officer to be based at any
office that is greater than fifty (50) miles from where the Officer's office is
located immediately prior to the Change in Control), except for required travel
on the Company's business to an extent substantially consistent with the
business travel obligations which the Officer undertook on behalf of the Company
prior to the Change in Control;

               (vi)   the failure by the Company to obtain an agreement
reasonably satisfactory to the Officer from any Successor (as defined in Section
7(a) hereof) to assume and agree to perform this Agreement;

               (vii)  the failure by the Company to pay to the Officer any
portion of an installment of deferred compensation under any deferred
compensation program of the Company within 15 days of the date the Officer gives
notice of such failure, without prior written consent of the Officer; or

               (viii) any unreasonable refusal by the Company to continue to
allow the Officer to attend to matters or engage in activities not directly
related to the business of the Company which, prior to the Change in Control,
the Officer was permitted by Management to attend to or engage in.

               (ix)   for purposes of this Agreement, "Plan" shall mean any
compensation plan or any employed benefit plan such as a thrift, pension, profit
sharing, medical, disability, accident, life insurance plan or a relocation plan
or policy or any other plan, program or policy of the Company intended to
benefit employees.

          (d)  Window Period. The term "Window Period" shall mean the 45 day
period immediately following the first anniversary of the date on which a Change
in Control occurred.

          (e)  Notice of Termination. Any purported termination by the Company
or by the Officer following a Change in Control shall be communicated by a
written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which shall indicate
the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon.

     6.   Compensation Upon Termination

          (a)  If, within 60 months after a Change in Control of the Company has
occurred, the Officer's employment by the Company is terminated other than on
account of the Officer's death and is terminated either (i) by the Company other
than for Cause or Disability or (ii) by the Officer during the Window Period or
for Good Reason, then the Company shall pay to the Officer, no later than the
fifteenth day following the date of termination, without regard to any
provisions of any Plan, the following:

               (i)    The Officer's base salary through the date of termination
at the rate in effect immediately prior to the time a Notice of Termination is
given, plus any benefits or

                                       5

<PAGE>

awards (including both the cash and stock components) which pursuant to the
terms of any Plans have been earned or become payable, but which have not yet
been paid to the Officer (including amounts which previously had been deferred
at the Officer's request).

                    (ii) A lump sum payment in cash in an amount equal to two
times the Officer's base salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the
time a Notice of Termination is given.

               (b)  The amount of any payment provided for in this Section 6
shall not be reduced, offset or subject to recovery by the Company by reason of
any compensation earned by the Officer as the result of employment by another
employer after the date of termination, or otherwise.

          7.   Successors; Binding Agreement

               (a)  The Company will seek, by written request at least five
business days prior to the time a Person becomes a Successor (as hereinafter
defined, to have such Person, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to
the Officer, assent to the fulfillment of the Company's obligations under this
Agreement. Failure of such Person to furnish such assent by the later of (i)
three business days prior to the time such Person becomes a Successor or (ii)
ten business days after such person receives a written request to so assent may,
at the election of the Officer, constitute Good Reason for termination by the
Officer of his employment if a Change in Control of the Company occurs or has
occurred, and the failure of the Officer to elect to terminate for Good Reason
upon the expiration of the applicable period shall not constitute a waiver of
his right to do so, which right he shall retain until the commencement of the
Window Period. For purposes of this Agreement, "Successor" shall mean any Person
that succeeds to, or has the practical ability to control (either immediately or
with the passage of time) the Company's business directly, by merger or
consolidation, or indirectly, by purchase of the Company's Voting Securities or
otherwise.

               (b)  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Officer's personal legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the
Officer should die while any amount would still be payable to him hereunder if
he had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein,
shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Officer's
devisee, legatee or other designee or, if no such designee exists, to his
estate.

               (c)  For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Company" shall
include any subsidiaries and any corporation or other entity which is the
surviving or continuing entity in respect of any merger, consolidation or form
of business combination in which the Company ceases to exist.

          8.   Fees and Expenses; Mitigation.

               (a)  The Company shall reimburse the Officer, on a current basis,
for all

                                       6

<PAGE>

reasonable expenses which he shall incur in connection with the Agreement
following a Change in Control of the Company, including without limitation, all
such fees and related expenses, if any, incurred (i) in contesting or disputing
any termination of the Officer's employment or (ii) the Officer's seeking to
obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement, in each case,
regardless of whether or not the Officer's claim is upheld by a court of
competent jurisdiction; provided, however, the Officer shall be required to
repay any such amounts to the Company to the extent that a court issues a final
and non-appealable order setting forth the determination that the position taken
by the Officer was frivolous or advanced by him in bad faith.

          (b) The Officer shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any
payment the Company becomes obligated to make to the Officer in connection with
this Agreement, by seeking other employment or otherwise.

     9.   Taxes. All payments to be made to the Officer under this Agreement
will be subject to required withholding of federal, state and local income and
employment taxes.

     10.  Notice. Any notices, requests, demands and other communications
provided for by this Agreement be sufficient if in writing and delivered in
person or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid (in which case
notice shall be deemed to have been given on the third day after mailing), or by
overnight delivery by a reliable overnight courier service (in which case notice
shall be deemed to have been given on the day after delivery to such courier
service) to the Officer at the last address the Officer has filed in writing
with the Employer, or in the case of the Employer, at its main office, attention
of the Board of Directors.

     11.  Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived
or discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is approved by each
of the Board and the Compensation Committee of the Board and is agreed to in a
writing signed by the Officer and a duly authorized person who is Chairman of
the Board or President or an Executive Vice President of the Company and who is
not the Officer. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by
the other party hereto of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of
this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of
similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at may prior or
subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or
implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either
party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

     12.  Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth
of Virginia, without regard to the choice of law provisions of any jurisdiction.

     13.  Validity. The invalidity, interpretation, construction and performance
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

                                       7

<PAGE>

     14.  Legal Counsel. The Officer has reviewed the contents of this Agreement
and fully understands its terms. The Officer acknowledges that he is fully aware
of his right to the advice of independent counsel and that the Company has
advised him of such right and disclosed to him the risks in not seeking such
independent advice, and that he understands the potentially adverse interest of
the parties with respect to this Agreement. The Officer further acknowledges
that no representations have been made with respect to the income or estate tax
or other consequences of this Agreement to him and that he has been advised of
the importance of seeking independent advice of counsel with respect to such
consequences.

                                       8

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as a sealed instrument
by the Company, by its duly authorized officer, and by the Officer, as of the
date first above written.

                                       COMMONWEALTH BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Robert B. Harris
                                           ---------------------------------
                                       Title: President
                                       Date:  4/10/00

                                       /s/ James H. Brennan
                                       -------------------------------------
                                       James H. Brennan
                                       Address: 8602 Royal Birkdale Dr.
                                                ----------------------------
                                                Chesterfield, VA 23832
                                                ----------------------------

                                       9

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