As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2001


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 23, 2001


                            W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


   Delaware                           0-7849                     22-1867895
- ---------------                  ----------------            -------------------
(State or other                  (Commission File               (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                       Number)                Identification No.)
incorporation)


            165 Mason Street, P.O. Box 2518, Greenwich, CT 06836-2518
            ---------------------------------------------- ----------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 629-3000
                                                           --------------


                                 Not Applicable
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






Item 5. Other Events

     Reference is made to the press release of W. R. Berkley Corporation (the
"Company") relating to the Company's announcement that it will list its common
stock on the New York Stock Exchange starting on May 9, 2001 under the ticker
symbol "BER". The press release was issued on April 23, 2001. A copy of the
press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (a) Financial statements of businesses acquired:

          None.

     (b) Pro forma financial information:

          None.

     (c) Exhibits:

          99.1 Press Release dated April 23, 2001






                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION

                                        By: /s/ Eugene G. Ballard
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Name:  Eugene G. Ballard
                                            Title: Senior Vice President,
                                                   Chief Financial Officer and
                                                   Treasurer

Date: April 23, 2001






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit:
- --------

99.1           Press Release dated April 23, 2001