As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 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): December 14, 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 reserves established by the Company for potential losses
arising from the recent bankruptcy filing by Enron Corporation and the Company's
expected refocusing of its surety reinsurance business. The press release was
issued on December 14, 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 December 14, 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: December 18, 2001






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit:
- -------

99.1                Press Release dated December 14, 2001