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

Exhibit 5.1

787 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019-6099 Tel: 212 728 8000 Fax: 212 728 8111

September 9, 2020

Re: W. R. Berkley Corporation – 4.00% Senior Notes due 2050

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of $170,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.00% Senior Notes due 2050 (the “Securities”) pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of May 12, 2020, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture (such Indenture, as so supplemented, the “Indenture”), dated as of May 12, 2020, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

In connection therewith, we have examined (a) the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-221559) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (b) the prospectus of the Company dated November 14, 2017, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement, dated September 1, 2020, relating to the Securities, as filed with the Commission on September 2, 2020, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (the “Prospectus”), and (c) the Indenture. In addition, we have examined the originals (or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company or committees thereof and such other agreements, instruments, certificates, documents and records and have reviewed such questions of law and made such inquiries as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the opinions rendered herein.

In such examination, we have assumed, without inquiry, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures on all documents examined by us, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the original documents of all such documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We have also assumed that the books and records of the Company are maintained in accordance with proper corporate procedures. As to any facts material to our opinion, we have, when relevant facts were not independently established, relied upon the aforesaid agreements, instruments, certificates, documents and records and upon statements and certificates of officers and representatives of the Company and of public officials.

NEW YORK    WASHINGTON    HOUSTON    PALO ALTO    SAN FRANCISCO    CHICAGO    PARIS    LONDON    FRANKFURT    BRUSSELS    MILAN    ROME

W. R. Berkley Corporation

September 9, 2020

Page 2

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Securities have been duly authorized and (assuming their due authentication by the Trustee), when they have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture.

The opinions rendered herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Federal laws of the United States of America.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 9, 2020, as filed with the Commission on September 9, 2020, which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” contained in the Prospectus. In giving our consent, we do not thereby concede that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP