Rowan is a solicitor, formerly a practising barrister.  The majority of Rowan's work is for substantial contractors or their professional advisers. Rowan specialises in complex construction and engineering disputes, including associated professional negligence actions, whether in litigation (Technology and Contruction Court), arbitration or adjudication.  His work within the engineering field includes structural, civil (including road building and tunnelling), mechanical and electrical, power generation, hazardous waste disposal, oil and chemicals, food processing, railways, telecommunications, off-shore and on-shore drilling.

Rowan is a Chartered Arbitrator, co-author of  a book on the 1996 Arbitration Act, and author of the adjudication section of Bernstein's Handbook of Dispute Resolution.