W. R. Berkley (WRB) 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

Exhibit 12.1

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (1)

	Six
	Months
	Ended June		Year Ended December 31,
	30, 2009		2008		2007		2006		2005		2004
	(Dollars in thousands, except ratios)
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, but after noncontrolling interest		70,857		326,060		1,057,634		985,916		767,413		635,067
Add:
Portion of rents representative of the interest factor		3,967		7,934		7,146		6,449		5,810		5,594
Interest expense		40,437		84,623		88,996		92,522		85,926		66,423
Income as adjusted		115,261		418,617		1,153,776		1,084,887		859,149		707,084
Fixed charges:
Interest expense		40,437		84,623		88,996		92,522		85,926		66,423
Portion of rents representative of the interest factor		3,967		7,934		7,146		6,449		5,810		5,594
Total		44,404		92,557		96,142		98,971		91,736		72,017
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		2.6		4.5		12.0		11.0		9.4		9.8

(1) No preferred stock dividends were paid during the periods set forth above.