EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                             --------------------


            THIS  AGREEMENT is entered into as of January 3, 1997 by and between
The Taubman Company Limited  Partnership,  a Michigan  limited  partnership (the
"Company"), and Lisa A. Payne ("Payne").

            WHEREAS,  the Company desires to employ Payne,  and Payne desires to
be employed by the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein;

            NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual
covenants and  agreements  set forth herein,  the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:

      Article I. (a) The  Company  hereby  employs  Payne as an  Executive  Vice
President and its Chief Financial Officer, and Payne accepts such employment and
agrees to perform  such  services  and duties as may be  reasonably  assigned or
delegated  to her  from  time to  time by the  Chief  Executive  Officer  of the
Company, the Partnership Committee (the "Partnership  Committee") of The Taubman
Realty Group Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership ("TRG"), or the
General Partner of the Company,  upon the terms and conditions set forth herein,
during the  Employment  Period (as  defined  hereinafter).  In  addition  to the
foregoing  capacities,  she  shall  serve  TRG as a  member  of the  Partnership
Committee  as an appointee of Taub-Co  Management,  Inc. or TG Partners  Limited
Partnership  to serve as such in accordance  with the  Partnership  Agreement of
TRG,  and shall  serve  Taubman  Centers,  Inc.  ("TCI")  as an  Executive  Vice
President,  its Chief Financial Officer and, subject to the ByLaws of TCI and if
designated  in the first  instance by the Board of  Directors of TCI to fill the
vacancy created by the resignation of Bernard Winograd and thereafter if elected
by the Shareholders of TCI, as a member of its Board of Directors.

                        (b)   Payne's term of employment shall commence as of a
date mutually acceptable to the Company and Payne, which shall not be later than
January 31,







1997,  and  continue  through  the  third  anniversary  of the  commencement  of
employment (the "Initial Term").  On the second  anniversary of the commencement
of employment and on each anniversary thereafter, the term of Payne's employment
under this Agreement shall  automatically be extended for an additional one-year
period (each, an "Extension Term"),  unless prior to any such anniversary either
the  Company  or Payne  provides  written  notice to the  other of such  party's
intention that Payne's  employment  under this Agreement not be so extended.  As
used  herein,  the term  "Employment  Period"  means the  Initial  Term and each
Extension  Term.  In the event  that  Payne's  employment  with the  Company  is
terminated  as  provided  in Article III hereof,  the  Employment  Period  shall
terminate as of the termination of such employment,  except for the continuation
of payments as provided in Article III(a) hereof.

      Article II. (a) During the  Employment  Period,  the Company  shall pay to
Payne for all services  rendered  under this Agreement a base salary of not less
than $500,000,  payable in accordance with the general payroll  practices of the
Company  (the "Base  Salary").  The Company  will review the amount of such Base
Salary annually with  consideration to an upward  adjustment;  however,  nothing
contained  herein  obligates  the  Company to  increase  the Base  Salary.  Once
increased by the Company, the Base Salary may not be decreased.

                        (b)   During the Employment Period, Payne shall 
participate in the Senior Short Term Incentive Plan of the Company (the "SSTI"),
having a target of $250,000 and a maximum annual award of $375,000, it being  
understood that all amounts payable under the SSTI shall be paid by March 15 of
the year following the year in which the award was made in accordance with 
normal Company practice.  For the year ended  December 31, 1997, the Company 
hereby agrees that the award to Payne under the SSTI will be at least $250,000.



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                        (c)   During the Employment Period, Payne shall 
participate  in the  Company's  Long-Term  Performance  Compensation  Plan  (the
"LTPC") with a "Basic Grant Amount" for her initial grant under the LTPC of 7.25
"Notional Units", such initial grant to be made at the March 1997 meeting of the
Compensation  Committee of TRG (the "Compensatio  Committee") or the Partnership
Committee (the "March Meeting").

                        (d)   No later than the March Meeting, Payne shall be
granted an option to purchase the  equivalent in Units of  Partnership of TRG of
100,000 shares of Common Stock of TCI pursuant to the TRG 1992 Incentive  Option
Plan (the "Incentive Option Plan").

                        (e)   During the Employment Period, Payne shall be 
eligible to participate in all the Company's  employee  benefit  programs as the
same may be in effect  from time to time and shall be  entitled  to receive  the
same  perquisites  provided to other senior  executives of the Company.  Article
III. (a) If Payne's  employment with the Company terminates for any reason other
than  Payne's  voluntary  termination  of her  employment  hereunder,  death  or
"disability"  (as that term is defined in the LTPC), or other than the Company's
termination  for "cause" (as hereinafter  defined),  Payne shall have no further
obligations  hereunder  and in  addition  to any and  all  benefits  under  this
Agreement that have accrued to the date of termination of the employment,  shall
be entitled to receive, subject to Section (d) below, her Base Salary and target
bonus under the SSTI, in either case, in effect at the time of such  termination
(which  shall  continue  to be  payable  in the  same  manner  as  prior to such
termination)  for the  remainder of the  Employment  Period.  In  addition,  all
benefits  under the  various  compensatory  plans of the  Company  that Payne is
participating  in shall  immediately  vest in accordance  with the terms of such
compensatory plans, it being understood, however,



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that  the  Company  shall  recommend  to the  Compensation  Committee  that  the
Compensation  Committee take the following action: (i) with respect to the LTPC,
that at the time of the grant of the "Basic  Grant  Amount",  such "Basic  Grant
Amount"  shall  automatically  vest  pursuant  to Section 5.5 of the LTPC in the
event Payne's  employment with the Company  terminates for any reason other than
Payne's   voluntary   termination   of  her  employment   hereunder,   death  or
"disability",  or other than the  Company's  termination  for  "cause" or in the
event that the Initial  Term is not  automatically  renewed  pursuant to Article
I(b) hereof;  and (ii) with respect to the  Incentive  Option Plan,  that at the
time of the grant  contemplated  by  Article  II(d)  hereof,  such  grant  shall
automatically vest pursuant to Section 7.6 of the Incentive Option Plan 6 months
and 1 day following the date of such grant in the event Payne's  employment with
the Company  terminates for any reason other than Payne's voluntary  termination
of her employment hereunder, death or "disability",  or other than the Company's
termination  for  "cause"  and  shall be  exercisable  for a  period  of 90 days
thereafter,  provided that such termination of employment occurs not sooner than
6 months and 1 day  following  the date of such grant,  or in the event that the
Initial Term is not automatically  renewed pursuant to Article 1(b) hereof . For
purposes  hereof and for purposes of Article III(c)  hereof,  Payne shall not be
deemed to have voluntarily terminated her employment hereunder if she leaves the
employ of the Company for any reason  within 90 days  following (i) a "Change in
Control  Event"  as  that  term  is  defined  in the  LTPC,  (ii) a  substantial
diminution  of  duties  or  responsibilities,  (iii) a change  in title  without
Payne's  consent or (iv) a change in  location  of Payne's  place of  employment
outside of the metropolitan Detroit area.

                         (b)   The Company may terminate Payne's employment for
"cause" in which  event  neither  the  Company  nor Payne shall have any further
obligations to the other hereunder other than the Company's  obligation to Payne
for any and all benefits



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under this  Agreement that have accrued to the date of termination of employment
and as provided in the applicable compensatory plans of the Company.  "Cause" is
hereby  defined to mean the  willful  and  continual  failure  to  substantially
perform her duties with the Company or the engagement in conduct  (including any
peculation)  which is  demonstrably  and  materially  injurious  to the Company,
monetarily  or  otherwise   ("Termination  for  Cause");   provided,  that  such
termination  shall be effective  only if it shall have been preceded by a notice
specifying  the  facts  and  circumstances   claimed  to  provide  a  basis  for
Termination  for Cause.  For  purposes  hereof,  no act,  or failure to act,  on
Payne's part shall be considered  "willful"  unless done, or omitted to be done,
by Payne not in good  faith and  without  reasonable  belief  that her action or
omission was in the best interests of the Company.

                        (c)   In the event that Payne's employment with the 
Company  terminates by reason of her  voluntary  termination  of her  employment
hereunder,  death or "disability",  neither the Company nor Payne shall have any
further  obligations to the other hereunder other than the Company's  obligation
to Payne for any and all benefits  under this Agreement that have accrued to the
date of termination of employment and as provided in the applicable compensatory
plans of the Company.  (d) If during the payout  period  provided in Article III
(a) (other than in  connection  with a "Change in Control  Event" in which event
this  Article  III(d)  shall not apply)  Payne shall  accept  employment  with a
person,  corporation or other entity other than the Company, then any amounts to
be paid to Payne thereafter pursuant to this Article III shall be reduced by the
amount of any  compensation  paid to Payne by such other person,  corporation or
other entity during the balance of the payout period, provided,  however, if the
event resulting in the termination payments to Payne under Article III(a) hereof
occurs during the first two years of the Initial Term, such reduction shall only
take into account the amount



                                        5





of base salary  received by Payne from her new  employer.  As a condition to the
continued  receipt by Payne of payments pursuant to Article III, Payne shall, at
the written  request  from time to time of the  Company,  certify to the Company
either (i) that she has not  accepted  employment;  or (ii) if she has  accepted
employment,  the total compensation to be paid to her by such other corporation,
person or entity during such balance of the payout period.

      Article IV. It is the intent of the Company and Payne that Payne  relocate
her  family  residence  to  the  Bloomfield  Hills,   Michigan  area  (the  "New
Residence") as soon as possible after the  commencement  of employment.  In this
regard, the Company and Payne hereby agree as follows:

                        (a)   The Relocation - Current Employees policy (the 
     "Policy") of the Company (a copy of which is attached  hereto)  shall apply
     to the relocation of Payne with the following exceptions:

                              (i)  Temporary Living Expenses.  The 30 day 

limitation  in the Policy with  respect to temporary  living  expenses is hereby
changed to six months, subject to such reasonable increase(s) as the Company and
Payne may agree to in the future; and

                              (ii)  Relocation Loan Allowance.  This portion of
the Policy shall not be applicable to Payne's relocation.

                        (b)   In addition to the foregoing, in the event that
Payne sells her Brooklyn  Heights,  New York residence (the "Old Residence") for
less than  $1,650,000  (including a sale  pursuant to that portion of the Policy
relating to Home Sale  Assistance),  the Company shall pay to Payne one-half the
difference  between  $1,650,000 and the actual selling price in connection  with
such sale up to a maximum of $175,000 upon the  presentment to the Company of an
executed  closing  statement  reflecting  the sale  price of the Old  Residence.
Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained  herein,  this section 4(b)
shall



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continue to apply after the termination of the Employment  Period for any reason
until such time as the Old Residence is sold.

      Article V.  During the  Employment  Period,  Payne  shall  devote her best
efforts and her full time and attention during normal business hours (except for
usual  vacation  periods  and periods of illness or other  incapacities)  to the
business and affairs of the Company.

      Article  VI.  (a) This  Agreement  shall  inure to the  benefit  of and be
enforceable   by  Payne's   personal   or  legal   representatives,   executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If Payne
should die during the Employment  Period all amounts payable  hereunder shall be
paid in accordance  with the terms of this Agreement to her devisee,  legatee or
other  designee or if there is no such  designee,  to her estate.  Payne may not
assign,  pledge or encumber her interest in this  Agreement  without the written
consent of the Company.

                        (b)   This Agreement may not be assigned by either party
hereto without the prior written consent of the other, and no such consent shall
operate as a waiver of any other rights pursuant to this Agreement.

      Article VII. All notices  required or  contemplated  under this  Agreement
shall be delivered (a) personally,  (b) by next day courier  service,  or (c) by
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows (or
to such other address as any party may provide in writing to the other):

            If to the Company:

                  The Taubman Company Limited Partnership
                  200 East Long Lake Road
                  Suite 200
                  Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304

                  Attention:  Mr. Robert S. Taubman



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            with a copy to:

                  Miro Weiner & Kramer
                  500 North Woodward Avenue
                  Suite 100
                  Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304

                  Attention:  Kenneth H. Gold, Esq.

            If to Payne:

                  Lisa A. Payne
                  99 Battery Place Apt. 9F
                  New York, New York 10280

            with a copy to:

                  Kirkland & Ellis
                  200 East Randolph Drive
                  Chicago, Illinois 60601

                  Attention:  Alan G. Berkshire, Esq.

All  notices  under this  Agreement  shall be deemed  received  when  personally
delivered,  on the first business day after  depositing  with a next day courier
service, or on the third day after mailing, as the case may be.

      Article VIII. This Agreement  shall be construed  according to the laws of
the State of Michigan (excluding the choice of law rules thereof).

      Article IX. This  Agreement  contains the entire  agreement of the parties
hereto  relating to the  employment of Payne by the Company and  supersedes  all
oral or written  agreements,  commitments or understandings  between the parties
hereto with respect to the matters provided herein.  No amendment,  modification
or  waiver  of this  Agreement  shall be valid or  binding  unless  set forth in
writing  and  duly  executed  by  the  party  against  whom  enforcement  of the
amendment,  modification  or waiver is sought  (which in the case of the Company
must be signed by its  President),  and then any such waiver  shall be effective
only



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in the  specific  instance and for the  specific  purpose for which  given.  The
parties hereby  expressly agree that there are no implied  contracts,  promises,
covenants, or conditions governing their employment relationship.

      Article X. This  Agreement  may be executed  in one or more  counterparts,
each of which  shall be  deemed an  original,  but all of which  together  shall
constitute one and the same agreement.

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


                                    THE TAUBMAN COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                           By : /s/ Robert S. Taubman
                                ------------------------------------------------

                                Its: President
                                ------------------------------------------------

                                /s/ Lisa A. Payne
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                    Lisa A. Payne



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