<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-05-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001138639</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INFINERA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>INFN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001177264</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCCARTHY MICHAEL O III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INFINERA CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>140 CASPIAN COURT</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94089</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Legal &amp; Admin Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-05-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1319</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.84</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                    <footnoteId id="F14"/>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
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            <transactionDate>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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            </securityTitle>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F12"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F13"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option fully vested on May 5, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option fully vested on July 26, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option fully vested on June 28, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The option fully vested on February 10, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The option fully vested on August 10, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The option vests and becomes exercisable in thirty-six monthly installments beginning on November 23, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The option vests and becomes exercisable in thirty-six monthly installments beginning on February 5, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">The option vests and becomes exercisable in forty-eight monthly installments beginning on February 5, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">The option vests and becomes exercisable in thirty-six monthly installments beginning on February 10, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Each restricted stock unit (&quot;RSU&quot;) represents a contingent right to receive one share of INFN common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">The RSUs vest in three annual installments beginning on February 5, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">The RSUs vest in three annual installments beginning on February 5, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F13">The RSUs vest as to 100% on December 31, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F14">Includes 3,000 shares acquired under the Company's 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan on February 15, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael O. McCarthy III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-05-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
