The IP legal department for self-driving car company Cruise is nominated for the California Legal Awards' Vanguard Award for rebuilding a more streamlined patent portfolio development program.

From 2017 to 2021, Cruise reports that it increased its patent filings by almost 75% and cut filing timelines by half, now taking just over two months to learn an invention and draft and file a new U.S. patent. Cruise's new program features a collaboration platform, an alternative fee arrangement and results-based rewards for counsel, according to the company.