Document:

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29/th/ May 1997
                                                                   Exhibit 10.20
                                                                   -------------

PERSONAL
--------

Dr P J Boon
5505 Providence Glen Road
Charlotte
North Carolina 28270
USA

Dear Phil

Following our discussions, I am pleased to offer you a position with the Company
initially in the position of Business Manager in the Petroleum Specialties
Department, based at Ellesmere Port. We will finalise a commencement date as
soon as possible, however, this will be no later than 1/st/ September 1997. Your
salary will be (Pounds)55,500 per annum, which will run to 31/st/ December 1997.
You will also receive a one-off taxable payment of (Pounds)5,000 which will be
paid with your first monthly salary.

As we discussed, you will be eligible to participate in the GLCC Corporate Share
Option scheme.  I must stress, however, that this is discretionary and grants of
options are not guaranteed.

This offer of employment is subject to the completion of a medical examination
and the receipt of two references, the results of which are satisfactory to us.
I have enclosed medical paperwork which should be completed as soon as possible
in the United States.

This offer assumes your acceptance of the Company's terms and conditions of
employment, which, unless otherwise expressed in this letter, are as set out in
Part 1 of the enclosed copy of the Staff Handbook.

Holiday Entitlement
-------------------

You will be entitled to 30 days annual holiday in a full holiday year, which
runs from 1/st/ March to 28 or 29 February.  Your entitlement in the first year
will depend on your start date.

BUPA Membership
---------------

You will be offered membership of the Company's BUPA Bulk Scheme for yourself
and your spouse on a non-contributory basis.  The current taxable benefit
arising from the Company's contribution is (Pounds)674.00 per annum.  Membership
can be extended to cover any unmarried children under 21 years of age on a
contributory basis at a current monthly rate of (Pounds)14.04.

Holiday Gift and Overseas Travel Allowance
------------------------------------------

With reference to Sections 7 and 23 of the Staff Handbook respectively, please
note that you are not entitled to Holiday Gift or Overseas Travel Allowances.
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Termination of Contract
-----------------------

Should you wish to terminate your employment you must give the Company three
months notice.  You will be entitled to receive six months notice from the
Company to terminate your services.  The Company notice period will not apply if
your service is terminated as a result of gross misconduct.

Pension Plan
------------

The Company maintains a Pension Scheme for the benefit of employees.  Further
details of the scheme are contained in the enclosed booklet and your attention
is drawn to the letter accompanying the booklet.

Company Car
-----------

You will be provided with a fully funded Company car, including private fuel,
typically a BMW 323I or Saab 9000 CD or equivalent.  You may take a cash
equivalent in lieu of a car; currently the allowance is (Pounds)6,300 per annum.
Further details will be furnished to you should you accept our offer of
employment.

Relocation
----------

The Company will assist you in relocating yourself and your family to an area
suitable for your place of work in Ellesmere Port.

Assistance will include expenses for house-hunting, legal fees, removal costs
and initial rented temporary accommodation for you and your family for up to a
period of three months.

You will receive an international re-settlement allowance of (Pounds)13,000 (not
taxable) in the month in which you move into your new UK property.

Further details of the relocation package will be forwarded to your under
separate cover, and we will discuss with you the sale of your existing property
and the purchase of a new one through the use of the Octel Homesale Plan.

Tax Advice
----------

The Company will provide you the opportunity of a tax consultation on your
return to the UK.

Lease Car
---------

The Company will reimburse any penalty regarding the early termination of your
lease car in the USA.

The above offer is also subject to your acceptance of certain employment
policies of Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, copies of which are enclosed, viz:

 .    Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Anti-trust Policy Please read the
     statement enclosed and by signing this letter you signify your acceptance
     of this policy.

 .    Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Code of Ethical Conduct.
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 .    Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Confidentiality Agreement Please note that
     Articles 7 and 9 of this Agreement are replaced by the following Article 7:

     "this agreement shall be governed and construed in all respects in
     accordance with English Law and the parties hereby submit to the non-
     exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts."

Should you wish to accept this offer, would you please sign the acceptance on
the duplicate of this letter and one copy of each of the Great Lakes Chemical
Corporation Code of Ethical Conduct and Confidentiality Agreement, and return
them to me.

I apologise for the formality of this letter, but I am sure you understand the
necessity.  I would be grateful if you could send me the names of two referees
we can contact and also your earliest start date.  If you have any queries,
please give me a call.

We look forward to you joining the Company at a very exciting time for us all.

Yours sincerely

M MATHIESON
Manager - Human Resources

Signed: .........................     Dated:...........................

Enc.EXHIBIT 4.1

                                   RESOLUTIONS

     WHEREAS, the Company is indebted Ralph McKittrick for consulting services
rendered and expenses incurred in connection with the business of the Company.

     RESOLVED, that in payment for consulting services provided to the Company
by Ralph McKittrick, the Company grants 500,000 shares of the Company's common
stock to be registered in a registration statement on Form S-8 to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") promptly after the Company
becomes current in all if its filing obligations under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").<PAGE>
WARRANT NO. _______

                        WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

                                       OF

                           THE MED-DESIGN CORPORATION

         This certifies that, FOR VALUE RECEIVED, LAWRENCE D. ELLIS (the
"Grantee") is entitled to purchase, subject to the provisions of this Warrant,
from The Med-Design Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (the "Company") Sixty
Six Thousand (66,000) fully paid, validly issued and nonassessable shares of
common stock , $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company
(the "Warrant Shares") at a price of $11.875 per share (the "Exercise Price").

1. Grant of Warrant. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement and in the Employment Agreement dated as of April 25, 2000 by and
between the Company, Med-Design Research and Lawrence D. Ellis (the "Employment
Agreement"), the Company hereby grants to the Grantee a warrant (the "Warrant")
to purchase 66,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.875 per
share. The Warrant shall become exercisable according to Paragraphs 2 and 5
below.

2. Exercisability of Warrant. The Warrant shall become exercisable on the
following dates:

               Date                 Shares for Which the Warrant is Exercisable
               ----                 -------------------------------------------
          April 25, 2000                            33,000
          April 25, 2001                            33,000

The exercisability of the Warrant is cumulative. In the event the Company shall
at any time subdivide, combine or reclassify the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, the number of Warrant Shares subject to this Warrant shall be adjusted
accordingly and the exercise price shall forthwith be proportionately decreased
in the case of a subdivision or increased in the case of a combination.

3. Term of Warrant. The Warrant shall terminate on April 25, 2005. The Warrant
shall automatically terminate upon Grantee being terminated for cause (as
defined in the Employment Agreement) or upon Grantee voluntarily terminating his
employment with the Company.

4. Exercise Procedures.

         (a) Subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 2 and 3 above, the Grantee
may exercise part or all of the Warrant by delivering to the Company this
Warrant with the Notice of Exercise form annexed hereto, duly executed,

<PAGE>

specifying the number of Warrant Shares as to which the Warrant is to be
exercised, together with the exercise price in cash.

         (b) The obligation of the Company to deliver Warrant Shares upon
exercise of the Warrant shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and
regulations and such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed
appropriate by the Board, including such actions as Company counsel shall deem
necessary or appropriate to comply with relevant securities laws and
regulations. The Company may require that the Grantee (or other person
exercising the Warrant after the Grantee's death) represent that the Grantee is
purchasing Warrant Shares for the Grantee's own account and not with a view to
or for sale in connection with any distribution of the Warrant Shares, or such
other representation as the Board deems appropriate. All obligations of the
Company under this Agreement shall be subject to the rights of the Company to
withhold amounts required to be withheld for any taxes, if applicable. Subject
to Board approval, the Grantee may elect to satisfy any income tax withholding
obligation of the Company with respect to the Warrant by having Warrant Shares
withheld up to an amount that does not exceed the minimum applicable withholding
tax rate for federal (including FICA), state and local tax liabilities.

5. Fractional Shares. No fractional shares or script representing fractional
shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant.

6. Change of Control or Death. Unless this Warrant shall have been terminated as
of an earlier time, upon a Change of Control or the Grantee's death, the Warrant
shall automatically accelerate and become fully exercisable.

         As used herein, a "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred
if:

         (a) Any "person" (as such term is used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of
the Exchange Act) (other than persons who are shareholders on the effective date
of this Agreement) becomes a "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of securities of
the Company representing more than 50% of the voting power of the then
outstanding securities of the Company; provided that a Change of Control shall
not be deemed to occur as a result of a change of ownership resulting from the
death of a shareholder, and a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur as
a result of a transaction in which the Company becomes a subsidiary of another
corporation and in which the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to
the transaction, will beneficially own, immediately after the transaction,
shares entitling such shareholders to more than 50% of all votes to which all
shareholders of the parent corporation would be entitled in the election of
directors (without consideration of the rights of any class of stock to elect
directors by a separate class vote); or

         (b) The consummation of (i) a merger or consolidation of the Company
with another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately
prior to the merger or consolidation, will not beneficially own, immediately
after the merger or consolidation, shares entitling such shareholders to more
than 50% of all votes to which all shareholders of the surviving corporation
would be entitled in the election of directors (without consideration of the
rights of any class of stock to elect directors by a separate class vote), (ii)
a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, or (iii) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

<PAGE>

7. Restrictions on Exercise. Only the Grantee may exercise the Warrant during
the Grantee's lifetime and, after the Grantee's death, the Warrant shall be
exercisable solely by the legal representatives of the Grantee, or by the person
who acquires the right to exercise the Warrant by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution, to the extent that the Warrant is exercisable pursuant to this
Agreement.

8. No Shareholder Rights. Neither the Grantee, nor any person entitled to
exercise the Grantee's rights in the event of the Grantee's death, shall have
any of the rights and privileges of a shareholder with respect to the Warrant
Shares subject to the Warrant, until certificates for Warrant Shares have been
issued upon the exercise of the Warrant.

9. Assignment and Transfers. The rights and interests of the Grantee under this
Agreement may not be sold, assigned, encumbered or otherwise transferred except,
in the event of the death of the Grantee, by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution. In the event of any attempt by the Grantee to alienate, assign,
pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of the Warrant or any right hereunder,
except as provided for in this Agreement, or in the event of the levy or any
attachment, execution or similar process upon the rights or interests hereby
conferred, the Company may terminate the Warrant by notice to the Grantee, and
the Warrant and all rights hereunder shall thereupon become null and void. The
rights and protections of the Company hereunder shall extend to any successors
or assigns of the Company and to the Company's parents, subsidiaries, and
affiliates. This Agreement may be assigned by the Company without the Grantee's
consent.

10 Applicable Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of this
instrument shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws provisions
thereof.

11 Notice. Any notice to the Company provided for in this instrument shall be
addressed to the Company in care of the Chief Executive Officer at Med-Design
Corporation, 2810 Bunsen Avenue Ventura, California 93003, and any notice to the
Grantee shall be addressed to such Grantee at the current address shown on the
payroll of the Company, or to such other address as the Grantee may designate to
the Company in writing. Any notice shall be delivered by hand, sent by telecopy
or enclosed in a properly sealed envelope addressed as stated above, registered
and deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office regularly maintained by the
United States Postal Service. All notices given in accordance herewith shall be
deemed given (i) on the date of delivery, if hand delivered, (ii) on the date of
receipt, if telecopied, (iii) three business days after the date of mailing, if
mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and (iv) one
business day after the date of sending, if sent by Federal Express or other
recognized overnight courier.

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                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be
signed by its duly authorized officer and its corporate seal to be affixed
hereto.

                  Dated:  April 25, 2000

                                            THE MED-DESIGN CORPORATION

(CORPORATE SEAL)                            By: ______________________________
                                            Name:  ___________________________
                                            Title:  __________________________

ATTEST:

-------------------------
Secretary

<PAGE>

                               NOTICE OF EXERCISE

                  The undersigned registered holder or assignee of such
registered holder of the within Warrant, hereby elects to purchase ___________
Warrant Shares that the undersigned is entitled to purchase under the terms of
the within Warrant, and tenders herewith payment therefor in full. Such shares
shall be issued in the name of the undersigned or as otherwise specified below:

                     --------------------------------------
                                     (Name)

                     --------------------------------------
                                    (Address)

                  If the shares issuable upon exercise do not constitute all
shares issuable as provided in the within Warrant, a new warrant of like tenor
for the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company not being purchased
hereunder shall be issued in the name of the undersigned.

Dated: ________________, 200_                  By: ________________________
                                                         (Signature)

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