As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 30, 2002



                       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): October 29, 2002




                            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)


            475 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, CT                      06830
        ----------------------------------------                ----------
        (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 announcement of the Company's results of operations
for the third quarter of 2002. The press release was issued on October 29, 2002.
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 October 29, 2002





                                   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:  October 30, 2002





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit:
- -------

99.1              Press Release dated October 29, 2002