Latham & Watkins Advises USHG Acquisition Corp. on Business Combination With Panera Brands

USHG Acquisition Corp. (NYSE:HUGS) (HUGS), a special purpose acquisition company created with the explicit goal of investing in a purpose-driven business on the path to becoming a public company, and Panera Brands, which includes the iconic fast casual and hospitality brand Panera Bread as well as Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels, have announced that they have signed an agreement through which HUGS will become a cornerstone partner with Panera Brands, which has announced its intention to complete an IPO.

Latham & Watkins LLP represents USHG Acquisition Corp. in the transaction with a corporate team led by Houston partner Ryan Maierson, Los Angeles/New York partner Greg Rodgers, and New York partner Howard Sobel, with associates Ryan Lynch, Clayton Heery, Kate Wang, Jessica Sherman, Brent Wagner, and Michael Basist. Advice was also provided on tax matters by New York partner David Raab, with associate Abigail Friedman; on benefits and compensation matters by Washington, D.C. partner Adam Kestenbaum, with associate Courtney Thomson; on antitrust matters by Washington, D.C. counsel Joseph Simei; on sanctions and compliance matters by associates Andrew Galdes and Asia Cadet; on environmental matters by Houston partner Joel Mack and Los Angeles counsel Joshua Marnitz, with associate Jennifer Garlock; on intellectual property matters by Bay Area partner Michelle Gross, with associate Amy Dippolito and Lydia Lim; and on real estate matters by San Diego partner Robert Frances, with associate Aaron Friberg.