Neon Law

Sagebrush Retrospective

This note is written from my perspective—Nick, one of the founders of Neon Law. It doesn’t reflect the views of our entire organization, just my personal journey.

Reflections on AI, Justice, and Purpose

AI is changing everything. Many of the legal and technical problems I used to spend hours solving are now just a prompt away. At its best, AI should free us up to spend more time with loved ones, to be more creative, and to enjoy the richness of life. I want to spend months just chilling with sloths in the Costa Rican rainforest.

But that’s not the reality we’re living in. Instead of abundance, we see growing inequality. Instead of shared progress, we see entrenched power structures. If we don’t make meaningful changes, we risk sliding into a dystopian future where opportunity is hoarded by a few, while the rest struggle in the shadows.

I refuse to accept that future. My guiding principle becomes clearer with age: do whatever I can to improve access to justice. Outside of my family, this mission is my life’s work.

The Sagebrush Experiment

For about six months, I explored launching a company called Sagebrush—an alternative to services like Stripe Atlas, Carta, and Stable, but with a Nevada-first approach. My vision was to build a company that proved two things wrong:

  1. That Nevada isn’t sophisticated enough to be a startup hub.
  2. That lawyers can’t build great software companies (which is why, supposedly, we need tech-bros and Legal Licensed Technicians to “save” us).

I brought together people I respected—people who shared my love for Nevada—to pitch them on the idea: Let’s build something that brings wealth and opportunity to our home state.

At first, the excitement was real. We believed we as Nevadans could take on the world. But ultimately, I failed.

Where I Went Wrong

I’ve heard more than once that I can be too hands-on, so I made a conscious effort to step back and let the team take the lead. My thinking was: If I put the right people together and gave them space, they’d figure things out and execute on our vision.

But I made a critical mistake: I assumed that my vision was clear just because it was clear in my head.

While I shared expectations in Slack, my messages often went unread or were seen as too much. When I nudged people to check their emails, I met resistance. I thought we’d follow a Lean Startup approach—start simple, solve immediate customer needs, and expand from there. But I didn’t communicate this well enough, and I didn’t set up a culture where people felt comfortable asking for clarity.

I take full responsibility for that.

Lessons for the Future

Even though Sagebrush didn’t work out, I’m grateful for the lessons it taught me. Moving forward, here’s what I’ll do differently:

  1. Make the Vision Crystal Clear – It’s my job to make sure everyone understands not just the goal, but the why behind it. A roadmap isn’t optional—it’s essential.
  2. Align the Team Early – Debate is good, but we need to move forward together. A leader’s role is to align the team and keep them moving.
  3. Execution Beats Ideas – A great idea without execution is worthless. We have to deliver value now and iterate as we go.
  4. Write It Down – If expectations aren’t documented, they don’t exist. Clarity prevents confusion.
  5. Acknowledge Insecurities – We all have fears—whether it’s about money, recognition, or speed. A strong culture means recognizing those fears and working through them together.

Looking Ahead

Mistakes only matter if we learn from them. While Sagebrush didn’t take off, the experience taught me so much—especially about meeting people where they are (the platinum rule) and the importance of writing things down upfront.

I won’t make the same mistakes as I refocus on Neon Law. For now, I plan to spend my time writing—getting everything down clearly—at least until the Nevada Bar Conference in June where I am presenting on AI & law.

Final Thoughts

At Neon Law, we believe in collaboration, shared ownership, and mutual accountability. Sagebrush was meant to embody those values, and while I didn’t execute them well enough this time, that doesn’t mean the vision is dead.

This isn’t the end—it’s just a learning chapter. I’ll keep pushing for Nevada as the best place to build a business, and I’ll make sure the core ideas of Sagebrush live on in Neon Law.

Sagebrush as a Product

We plan on building Sagebrush Services™ as a product that helps entrepreneurs navigate the Nevada legal maze. We have been using the Sagebrush Services™ trademark since September 2024.

Here’s to moving forward. 🚀