MDC PARTNERS INC
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
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<TYPE>EX-10.8.1
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<FILENAME>a06-2260_1ex10d8d1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>MATERIAL CONTRACTS
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<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit&nbsp;10.8.1</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">AMENDMENT NO.&nbsp;1
TO</font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT</font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:1.0in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">AMENDMENT
NO.&nbsp;1</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> dated March&nbsp;6, 2006 (&#147;<b><font style="font-weight:bold;">Amendment No.&nbsp;1</font></b>&#148;),
to the <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT</font></b> dated August&nbsp;25,
2004 by and between <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">MDC PARTNERS INC., </font></b>a
corporation existing under the laws of Canada (the &#147;<b><font style="font-weight:bold;">Company</font></b>&#148;), and <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">STEVEN BERNS </font></b>(the
&#147;<b><font style="font-weight:bold;">Executive</font></b>&#148;).</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:1.0in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">WHEREAS</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">, the parties
hereto desire to amend the Employment Agreement to provide for amended terms and
conditions;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:1.0in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">NOW,
THEREFORE</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements set forth in this Amendment No.&nbsp;1, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties do hereby agree as follows:</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Capitalized
terms used in this Amendment No.&nbsp;1 and not otherwise defined shall have
the meaning given to such terms in the Employment Agreement.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Section&nbsp;3(a)&nbsp;of
the Employment Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as
follows:&#160; &#147;<u>Title</u>. Effective as of November&nbsp;3,
2005, and for the remainder of the Term, the Executive shall have the position
of President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company.&#148;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Section&nbsp;4(a)&nbsp;of
the Employment Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the reference to &#147;an
annualized base salary of $475,000&#148; therein, and replacing it with &#147;effective January&nbsp;1,
2006, an annualized base salary of $550,000.&#148;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Section&nbsp;4(d)&nbsp;of
the Employment Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the reference to &#147;an
annual discretionary cash bonus in an amount up to 100%&#148; therein, and replacing
it with &#147;an annual discretionary cash bonus in an amount up to 150%.&#148;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As used herein
and in the Employment Agreement, the term &#147;Agreement&#148; shall mean the Employment
Agreement, as from time to time amended (including, without limitation, this
Amendment No.&nbsp;1).</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">6.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Except as set
forth above, the Employment Agreement, as amended herein, shall remain in full
force and force without further modification. This Amendment No.&nbsp;1 may&nbsp;be
executed in one or more counterparts.</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">IN
WITNESS WHEREOF</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment No.&nbsp;1
to the Employment Agreement, on the day and year first above written.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">MDC PARTNERS INC.</font></b></p>
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 71.3pt;text-indent:-10.1pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Steven Berns</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>

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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

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