As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2003



                       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): February 10, 2003




                            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 fourth quarter of 2002 and the year then ended. The press release was
issued on February 10, 2003. 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 February 10, 2003





                                   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: February 11, 2003





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit:
- --------

99.1     Press Release dated February 10, 2003