In a SPIEGEL interview, renowned Chicago-based economist Raghuram Rajan discusses the dangers of a global currency war, the risks of persistently low interest rates and the growing income and wealth inequality in the United States. SPIEGEL: Professor Rajan, the tensions between the United States and China are rising, several countries are trying to weaken their currencies. Is this the beginning of a global currency war? Rajan: This is certainly a skirmish, with countries using different tools to get an advantage.

We report in this issue how Pepper helped some Michigan residents who discovered that their voting registrations had been canceled in certain circumstances, without their knowledge. Also in this issue, Richard J. Reibstein, Lisa B. Petkun and Andrew J. Rudolph report on how the proposed Fair Playing Field Act would stop businesses from misclassifying employees as independent contractors, and show how employers can evaluate their workplaces and get them into compliance. J.

In a major change of direction, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has held that corporations cannot be the subject of actions that allege violations of customary international law under the US Alien Tort Claims Act. Partner Craig Phillips, Senior Associate Rachel Nicolson and Lawyer Michael Gomm report. http://www.aar.com.au/pubs/ldr/focsrsep10.htm

The past few years have seen an unprecedented boom in real estate development. However, that boom phase took a definite pause during the credit crunch. Driving through the city of Toronto, it was easy to spot the many condominium projects which have not broken ground due to the recession having intervened. In addition, some real estate projects that had already been commenced ran into trouble, leaving stake- holders in the lurch.

The past few years have seen an unprecedented boom in real estate development. However, that boom phase took a definite pause during the credit crunch. Driving through the city of Toronto, it was easy to spot the many condominium projects which have not broken ground due to the recession having intervened. In addition, some real estate projects that had already been commenced ran into trouble, leaving stakeholders in the lurch.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has recently published a timetable setting forth a schedule for the release of reports, rule proposals and adoption of final rules under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Act"). The Act was signed into law on July 2010 and requires applicable regulators, including the Securities Exchange Commission to a accomplish substantial rule making and to deliver reports to Congress or various topics. The Act consists of sixteen distinct Titles on a wide variety of topics.

On July 13, 2010, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit unanimously held that auto-parts supplier Visteon Corporation could not terminate health and life insurance benefits for approximately 2,100 retirees during its chapter 11 bankruptcy unless Visteon followed the specific requirements laid out in section 1114 of the Bankruptcy Code, even if Visteon would have had the unilateral right to terminate these benefits outside bankruptcy.

In a client memo dated March 7, 2007, we reported that the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York had issued a decision holding that secured lenders to a chapter 11 debtor could assert a valid, but unsecured, damages claim for breach of a contractual provision —known as a “no call” — that prohibits redemption of debt prior to maturity. In re Calpine Corp., 365 B.R. 392 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2007).

Salinas v. Texas: How the Supreme Court’s Decision in a Murder Case Impacts the Issue of “Remaining Silent” in Corporate White Collar Investigations