Healthcare Realty Trust (HR) S-3ASR Automatic shelf registration

Exhibit 5.2

February 26, 2021

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.

16435 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 320

Scottsdale, Arizona 85254

Re: Registration of Securities of Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. and Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Healthcare Trust of America, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and Healthcare Trust of America Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 26, 2021 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement relates to, among other things, the issuance and sale from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated under the Securities Act, of an unspecified amount of securities of the Company and the Operating Partnership consisting of: (a) shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”); (b) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (c) senior and subordinated debt securities of the Company (the “Company Debt Securities”) issued pursuant to one or more indentures (each, a “Company Indenture”) among the Company, a financial institution designated as trustee, any guarantors from time to time party thereto and the holders from time to time of the Company Debt Securities; (d) senior and subordinated debt securities of the Operating Partnership (the “Operating Partnership Debt Securities” and, together with the Company Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”) issued pursuant to one or more indentures (each, an “Operating Partnership Indenture” and, together with the Company Indentures, the “Indentures”) among the Operating Partnership, a financial institution designated as trustee, any guarantors from time to time party thereto and the holders from time to time of the Operating Partnership Debt Securities; (e) 3.500% Senior Notes due 2026 of the Operating Partnership (the “2026 Senior Notes”) issued pursuant to the indenture, dated as of July 12, 2016 (the “2026 Senior Notes Indenture”), among the Operating Partnership, the Company, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as may be amended and supplemented from time to time; (f) 3.750% Senior Notes due 2027 of the Operating Partnership (the “2027 Senior Notes”) issued pursuant to the indenture, dated as of June 8, 2017 (the “2027 Senior Notes Indenture”), among the Operating Partnership, the Company, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as may be amended and supplemented from time to time; (g) 3.100% Senior Notes due 2030 of the Operating Partnership (the “2030 Senior Notes”) issued pursuant to the indenture, dated as of September 16, 2019 (the “2030 Senior Notes Indenture”), among the Operating Partnership, the Company, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as may be amended and supplemented from time to time (h) 2.000% Senior Notes due 2031 of the Operating Partnership (the “2031 Senior Notes” and, together with the 2027 Senior Notes and the 2030 Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes”) issued pursuant to the indenture, dated as of September 28, 2020 (the “2031 Senior Notes Indenture” and, together with the 2023 Senior Notes Indenture, the 2026 Senior Notes Indenture, the 2027 Senior Notes Indenture and the 2030 Senior Notes Indenture, the “Senior Notes Indentures”), among the Operating Partnership, the Company, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as may be amended and supplemented from time to time; (i) guarantees of the Operating Partnership Debt Securities by the Company (the “Operating Partnership Debt

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.

February 26, 2021 - Page 2

Securities Guarantees”); (j) guarantees of the 2026 Senior Notes by the Company (the “2026 Senior Notes Guarantees”); (k) guarantees of the 2027 Senior Notes by the Company (the “2027 Senior Notes Guarantees”); (l) guarantees of the 2030 Senior Notes by the Company (the “2030 Senior Notes Guarantees”); (m) guarantees of the 2031 Senior Notes by the Company (the “2031 Senior Notes Guarantees” and, together with the Operating Partnership Debt Securities Guarantees, the 2026 Senior Notes Guarantees, the 2027 Senior Notes Guarantees and the 2030 Senior Notes Guarantees, the “Guarantees”); (n) warrants of the Company (the “Warrants”) to acquire other classes of Company Securities (as defined below) issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) among the Company, a warrant agent to be appointed by the Company prior to the issuance of the applicable Warrants and the holders from time to time of the Warrants; (o) rights (“Rights”) to purchase other classes of Company Securities issued pursuant to one or more rights agreements (each, a “Rights Agreement”); and (p) units representing an interest in two or more of the foregoing classes of Securities (“Units”), issued pursuant to one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”). The Class A Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Company Debt Securities, Guarantees, Warrants and Rights are collectively referred to herein as the “Company Securities” and, together with the Operating Partnership Debt Securities, Senior Notes, and the Units, the “Securities.”

In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such corporate and other records and documents as we considered appropriate including, without limitation:

(i)    the Registration Statement;

(ii)    the Fifth Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, as amended and presently in effect (the “Charter”);

(iii)    the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, as amended and presently in effect (the “LP Certificate”);

(iv)    the Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as presently in effect (the “Bylaws”);

(v)    the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, as presently in effect (the “LP Agreement”);

(vi)    certain resolutions of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) adopted by the Board of Directors on February 23, 2021 (the “Board Resolutions”), relating to the registration, issuance and sale of the Securities, the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments thereto) and related matters; and

(vii)    certain resolutions of the general partner of the Operating Partnership (the “General Partner”) adopted by written consent of the General Partner on February 26, 2021 (the “Operating Partnership Resolutions”), relating to the issuance and sale of the Operating Partnership Debt Securities, the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments thereto) and related matters.

In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We have also assumed that New York law will be chosen to govern the Indentures, the Warrant Agreements, the Rights Agreements and the Unit Agreements and that such choice is a valid and legal provision. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company.

In connection with each of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed that, at or prior to the time of delivery of any Securities, (i) the Board of Directors or the General Partner, as applicable, has taken all necessary

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.

February 26, 2021 - Page 3

corporate action to authorize the issuance and sale of such Securities in accordance with the Board Resolutions or Operating Partnership Resolutions, as applicable, and such authorization has not been modified or rescinded, (ii) the Registration Statement’s effectiveness has not been terminated or rescinded, (iii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to such Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and (iv) there has not occurred any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of such Securities. We have also assumed that the terms of the issuance and sale of any Securities have been duly established in conformity with the Charter and the Bylaws or the LP Certificate and LP Agreement, as applicable, and that none of the terms of any Securities to be established after the date hereof, nor the issuance and delivery of such Securities, nor the compliance by the Company or the Operating Partnership, as applicable, with the terms of such Securities will violate any applicable law or public policy or result in a violation of any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon the Company or the Operating Partnership, as applicable, or any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or the Operating Partnership, as applicable.

On the basis of such examination, our reliance upon the assumptions in this opinion and our consideration of those questions of law we considered relevant, and subject to the limitations and qualifications in this opinion, we are of the opinion that:

1.    With respect to any Senior Notes offered under the Registration Statement (the “Offered Senior Notes”), when the Offered Senior Notes have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Senior Notes Indenture or any supplemental indenture thereto, the Offered Senior Notes (including any Offered Senior Notes duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Warrants or Rights or in connection with the issuance of any Units) will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Operating Partnership, enforceable against the Operating Partnership in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws), and by general principles of equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

2.    With respect to any Debt Securities offered under the Registration Statement (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (i) the applicable Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto, (ii) the trustee named in the applicable Indenture is qualified to act as trustee under such Indenture, (iii) the applicable Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and (iv) the Offered Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture or any supplemental indenture thereto and the applicable underwriting or other agreement, the Offered Debt Securities (including any Offered Debt Securities duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Warrants or Rights or in connection with the issuance of any Units) will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company or the Operating Partnership, as applicable, enforceable against the Company or the Operating Partnership, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws), and by general principles of equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

3.    With respect to any Guarantees offered under the Registration Statement (the “Offered Guarantees”), when the Offered Guarantees have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture or any supplemental indenture thereto and the applicable underwriting or other agreement, the Offered Guarantees will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws), and by general principles of equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

4.    With respect to any Warrants offered under the Registration Statement (the “Offered Warrants”), when (i) the applicable Company Securities relating to such Offered Warrants have been duly authorized for issuance, (ii) the applicable Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto, and (iii) the Offered Warrants have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Warrant Agreement and the applicable underwriting or other agreement, the Offered Warrants will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws), and by general principles of equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.

February 26, 2021 - Page 4

5.    With respect to any Rights offered under the Registration Statement (the “Offered Rights”), when (i) the applicable Company Securities relating to such Offered Rights have been duly authorized for issuance, (ii) the applicable Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto, and (iii) the Offered Rights have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable underwriting or other agreement, the Offered Rights will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws), and by general principles of equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

6.    With respect to any Units offered under the Registration Statement (the “Offered Units”), when (i) the applicable Securities relating to such Offered Units have been duly authorized for issuance, (ii) the applicable Unit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto, and (iii) the Offered Units have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable underwriting or other agreement, the Offered Units will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company or the Operating Partnership, as applicable, enforceable against the Company or the Operating Partnership, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws), and by general principles of equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

To the extent that the obligations of the Company under a Warrant Agreement, Rights Agreement, or Unit Agreement or the obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under an Indenture may be dependent upon such matters, we have assumed for purposes of this opinion that such Warrant Agreement, Rights Agreement, Unit Agreement or Indenture, as the case may be, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each other party thereto, as the case may be, enforceable in accordance with its respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws), and by general principles of equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

The law covered by this opinion is limited to the present law of the State of New York and the current Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act. We express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction and no opinion regarding the statutes, administrative decisions, rules, regulations or requirements of any county, municipality, subdivision or local authority of any jurisdiction.

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ McDermott Will & Emery LLP