Ava E. Lias-Booker
About Ava E. Lias-Booker
Ava E. Lias-Booker, age 64, is an Independent Director of Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (ticker: DOC) serving since 2024; she joined the Board in connection with the March 1, 2024 merger with Physicians Realty Trust and sits on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee . A long-tenured law firm partner (McGuireWoods LLP since 2004), she brings legal, governance, regulatory compliance, financial literacy, human capital leadership, and public company board experience (including prior service as a trustee of Physicians Realty Trust) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| McGuireWoods LLP | Partner; Chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee (prior leadership role) | 2004–present | Leadership on human capital management; legal, governance, and regulatory compliance expertise |
| Saul Ewing LLP | Partner | 2001–2004 | Legal practice leadership |
| Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman, Hoffberger & Hollander LLP | Partner | 1995–2001 | Legal practice leadership |
| Saul Ewing LLP (formerly Weinberg & Green LLC) | Partner | 1994–1995 | Legal practice leadership |
| Physicians Realty Trust (formerly NYSE: DOC) | Trustee | 2022–Mar 1, 2024 | Public company board (risk oversight, investments, financial literacy, governance); expertise carried into Healthpeak Board |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland Saint Joseph’s Medical Center | Board of Directors | Not disclosed | Health system governance |
| University of Maryland Medical System | Board of Directors (gubernatorial appointee) | Not disclosed | Health system governance |
| Duke University School of Law | Board of Visitors (honorary) | Not disclosed | Legal education oversight |
| University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law | Board of Visitors (emeritus) | Not disclosed | Legal education oversight |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Member, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; committee is 100% independent, chaired by Katherine M. Sandstrom; other members include Brian G. Cartwright and Sara G. Lewis .
- Committee scope: Corporate Governance Guidelines, governance and corporate impact oversight, director time commitments, Code of Conduct reviews, board/committee evaluations, board refreshment, and director performance assessments .
- 2024 committee workload and attendance: 4 total meetings; committee attendance 100% .
- Board refreshment: Five directors from Physicians Realty Trust were appointed (including Lias-Booker) in March 2024 as part of merger integration; she joined the Governance Committee at that time .
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Lias-Booker is independent under NYSE rules; only the CEO and Board Vice Chair are non-independent .
- Executive sessions: Independent Directors hold executive sessions at Board and committee meetings to promote independence from management .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (Independent Director) | $85,000 | Paid quarterly in arrears; prorated based on service days |
| Governance Committee member fee | $9,000 | Annual cash; Chair fee is $20,000 (not applicable to Lias-Booker) |
| Additional per-meeting fee beyond 10 meetings/year | $1,500 | None incurred in 2024 |
| 2024 Fees Earned (Lias-Booker) | $53,646 | Prorated from March 1, 2024 appointment |
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Grant Date | Grant Date Fair Value | Shares/Units | Vesting Schedule | Performance Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (annual equity retainer) | Apr 26, 2024 | $180,000 | 9,575 unvested RSUs at 12/31/2024 | Cliff-vest in full on earliest of first anniversary of grant, next annual meeting, or termination due to death/disability; subject to forfeiture if service terminates otherwise | None (time-based RSUs; no performance conditions) |
Additional director compensation policies:
- Independent Chair additional cash retainer: $140,000 (not applicable to Lias-Booker) .
- Deferred compensation plan and stock-for-fees program: Directors may elect deferrals or stock-for-fees in lieu of cash; none currently participate .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None |
| Prior public company boards | Trustee, Physicians Realty Trust (2022–2024) |
| Board interlocks from PRST merger | Five former PRST directors joined Healthpeak in March 2024: Kessler, Lias-Booker, Thomas, Weiss, Governor Thompson |
Interlock governance context:
- Post-merger committee placements: Lias-Booker to Governance; Thompson and Weiss to Investment & Finance; Kessler to Audit .
- The Audit Committee oversees related person transactions and independence considerations .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Legal, governance, and regulatory compliance; risk oversight; investment and financial literacy; human capital management; corporate impact; public company board experience .
- Professional background: McGuireWoods partner since 2004; prior partner roles at multiple firms; leadership on diversity and inclusion .
- Board orientation and ongoing education: Comprehensive onboarding for new directors in Feb 2024; continuing education in governance, risk, cybersecurity, AI/technology, sustainability .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shares beneficially owned | 10,329 | As of Mar 4, 2025; sole voting/investment power except as noted |
| Unvested RSUs | 9,575 | As of Dec 31, 2024; typical for independent directors serving at that time |
| Percent of class | <1% | Less than 1% of outstanding common stock |
| Stock ownership guidelines | 5x annual cash retainer ($425,000) | Effective first May 15 occurring more than five years after joining Board; compliance reviewed annually |
| Compliance status | Not yet subject | All directors for whom guidelines were effective as of May 15, 2024 satisfied; Lias-Booker joined in 2024 so guideline effective date is in future |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness and engagement: Lias-Booker’s legal/regulatory and human capital expertise aligns with Governance Committee responsibilities (policy oversight, refreshment, evaluations), and the committee’s 100% attendance in 2024 supports engagement quality .
- Independence and conflicts: Board affirmed independence; Audit Committee reviews related person transactions; no related person transactions disclosed for her. Notably, recent transactional/exhibit counsel references include Latham & Watkins and Ballard Spahr, not McGuireWoods, mitigating potential perceived conflicts tied to her firm affiliation .
- Ownership alignment: Holds 10,329 shares plus typical unvested RSUs; subject to robust director ownership guidelines (5x retainer) after the five-year runway, which promotes alignment without immediate pressure for newly added directors .
- Committee workload and governance posture: Governance Committee focus includes corporate impact/climate risk strategy oversight, director time commitments, and board refreshment—critical areas during the integration year post-merger; 2024 highlights note active oversight of corporate impact and refreshment .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Lias-Booker—no related-party transactions, hedging/pledging disclosures, or attendance issues; committee attendance was 100% in 2024 .
Overall signal: Strong independence determination, relevant governance expertise, and standard director compensation/ownership structures indicate solid alignment and low conflict risk, supportive of investor confidence during merger integration and governance refresh .