Chambers and Partners 2008 recommends James Crawford SC as a starred ranking leading silk in Public International Law “Absolutely top-notch” and International Arbitration: General Commercial and Insurance. 

Chambers and Partners 2007 recommends James Crawford SC as a leading silk in International Arbitration: General Commercial and Insurance and in Public International Law (ranked 1st) "head and shoulders above everyone and a giant in the field".

Recommended as a leading silk in Public International Law (ranked 1st) "tremendous intellect" by the Legal 500 2007.

Recommended as joint 1st Leading Silk in Public International Law: 'James Crawford SC represents the best of the new generation of PIL barristers. Interviewees recommended him as "one of the most impressive people around;" he is "in his prime" and has "breadth of experience and a proven track record at the highest level." He presented arguments on jurisdiction on behalf of Palestine in the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He further has experience in Law of the Sea Tribunals, having appeared in Trinidad v Barbados and Malaysia v Singapore and has been involved in the long-running Ethiopia/Eritrea arbitration. His practice also takes in international commercial arbitration. "No matter how much thought you put into a matter, Crawford will come up with another dimension to it," one solicitor enthused.' He is also ranked joint 2nd Leading Silk in International Arbitration: 'James Crawford SC is a name to be reckoned with in this respect. He has a steady profile as counsel and increasingly as arbitrator.' (Chambers & Partners - 2006)

Recommended as joint top Leading Silk in Public International Law 'is [a] leading advocate who receives considerable praise from solicitors. His written work is widely acknowledged as the finest at the Bar, but his quick-witted intellect is also put to good use during contentious proceedings. In 2004 he advised the UN on the controversy surrounding the Israeli 'security wall' affecting Palestinian territory and appeared for Canada in the ICJ case Yugoslavia v Canada, concerning NATO's use of force during the recent conflict in the region. His record and reputation warrants his elevation to the top-tier.'
(Legal 500 - 2005)

Ranked as joint top of the Leaders in Public International Law - ‘Peers and solicitors alike praised James Crawford SC as "one of the leading practitioners for PIL and ICSID work in the UK." His "superb intellect" and broad background mean that he "towers over everybody else." This is illustrated by his case list; he has been involved in many of the landmark cases in this field as counsel, expert witness or judge/arbitrator. His practice, coupled with his academic career (Whewell Professor of International Law at the University of Cambridge, Chairman of the Faculty of Law in Cambridge and the Special Rapporteur on State Responsibility to the International Law Commission), has led many to comment on his "phenomenal energy: the man does not sleep." He has been admitted as Senior Counsel in Australia (the equivalent of UK silk).’
(Chambers & Partners UK - 2005)

Joint 2nd ‘Leading Silk’ in Public International Law - ‘At Matrix Chambers, James Crawford SC has a famous intellect and his written work is superior to many of his contemporaries.’ (Legal 500 - 2004)

"recognised for the vibrancy of his argument... brilliant at thinking laterally... one of the most creative PIL lawyers around" (Chambers & Partners - 2002)