Former PTO Deputy Sharon Barner Leaves Foley & Lardner

Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI),  announced today that Sharon R. Barner, formerly a top official in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and a leading intellectual property litigator, has joined the Company as Vice President and General Counsel.  Cummins Inc. designs, manufactures and distributes engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems.

Barner served as the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office for approximately 15 months, being appointed on October 2, 2009 and resigning effective January 14, 2011.

After leaving the USPTO Barner returned to Foley & Lardner’s Intellectual Property Department in its Chicago office, where she started with the firm in 1996.  While with Foley & Lardner, before leaving for the USPTO, she held a number of leadership positions, including chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department, , supervising more than 200 intellectual property lawyers. She was also a member of the firm’s Management Committee.

While at the USPTO Barner commuted from Alexandria, VA to Chicago on weekends to visit her family, choosing not to uproot her children from their schools. She and her family will be relocating to Indianapolis from Chicago.

During her tenure at the USPTO, Barner was the driving force behind the creation of the “2010-2015 USPTO Strategic Plan.” While Deputy Under Secretary, Barner participated in numerous foreign missions, including trips to Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and Russia, to meet with representatives of government, academia and industry in order to raise awareness of the importance of intellectual property and the positive impact it has on a nation’s economic, social and cultural development. She was also integral in the creation of the USPTO’s first regional office, which will be located in Detroit and is scheduled to open in July 2012.

Barner has successfully litigated and tried numerous high profile cases over her career, arguing before several appellate courts including the Sixth and Seventh Circuit as well as the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

At Cummins, Barner will report to Marya Rose, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. Rose was the Company’s General Counsel before being promoted to her current position.

“Sharon brings a strong legal background, deep expertise and sound judgment and will make significant contributions to the entire organization,” Rose said. “She is a proven leader and will undoubtedly be a strong partner to the business.

“She also knows Cummins well, having served as our outside counsel on intellectual property issues for many years,” Rose added. “I know she will be a tremendous asset as we grow into a truly global company.”

Barner, a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, said she’s excited about this new chapter in her more than 30-year legal career.

“Over time I’ve gotten to know Cummins and I’ve always been impressed with the Company’s Mission, Vision and Values and its commitment to creating the right work environment,” she said. “Cummins’ success is no surprise to me. I am really looking forward to this new opportunity.”

Barner’s awards and honors include receiving the “2011 Women of Vision Award” from the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, being named one of “The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America” by the National Law Journal in May 2008 and an Illinois “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics Media Inc. (2005-2011) for her intellectual property litigation work.