Evan Rowe

Hi, I'm Evan Rowe — a founding partner at King & Rowe, Attorneys at Law, and a criminal defense attorney in Hickory, North Carolina.

I grew up here. I graduated from Hickory High School in 2003, went to North Carolina State University (Class of 2007) — where I was a charter member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and served on the executive board of the Student Wolfpack Club — and then completed my law degree at the Charlotte School of Law in 2011.

During law school, I got my first courtroom experience through internships — handling cases on both sides of the criminal justice system. I worked first at the District Attorney's Office, then at the Public Defender's Office. Same charges, opposite chairs.

That experience shaped how I practice today. I've seen what prosecutors look for, which charges they pursue aggressively, and where their cases tend to be strongest. I've also seen what a defense attorney has to overcome — the moments where preparation actually changes the outcome. I believe defending the accused demands that same level of preparation: a real understanding of how the case was put together, an honest assessment of what can be challenged, and a strategy that respects the client's reality rather than the attorney's preferences.

Today I lead the firm's DWI and criminal defense practice, with a secondary practice in estate planning. I help individuals and families from all across the Unifour area — Catawba, Burke, and Caldwell counties. My criminal practice covers DWI and DUI, drug charges, felonies and misdemeanors, traffic violations, and contempt of court. My estate planning practice helps families protect what they've built through wills, powers of attorney, and related documents.

I'm currently serving my third term as President of the Catawba County Bar Association. I'm also a member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys (AAPDA), and I've been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. I'm admitted to practice in all North Carolina state courts, as well as in federal court for the Western District of North Carolina.

When I'm not in court, you'll find me spending time with my wife, daughters, and our four-legged friends — Cookie and Tilly. We enjoy traveling and spending time at the lake or the beach, and we're dedicated Wolfpack supporters. In rare moments of free time, you'll find me on the golf course.

When you call King & Rowe — whether after a DWI arrest along I-40, a felony charge, a traffic stop on US-321, or a question about updating an old will — you're working with an attorney who knows the courthouses, the prosecutors, and the local legal landscape, because I grew up here.

If you'd like to talk, call us at (828) 466-3858.