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                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                                                                 December 8,1997

Executive Risk Inc.
82 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT  06070

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
333-40657) (the "Registration Statement") filed by Executive Risk Inc. (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), relating to $75 million
aggregate principal amount of ____% Senior Notes due 20__ ("Securities") to be
offered as set forth in the Registration Statement.

            We have examined and are familiar with originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Registration
Statement, such corporate records of the Company, certificates of officers of
the Company and of public officials and such other documents as we have deemed
appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed below. In such examination, we
have assumed the authenticity of all documents presented to us as originals, the
conformity to the originals of all documents presented to us as copies, and the
authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

            Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

            1.    the Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws
                  of the State of Delaware; and

            2.    assuming the effectiveness of this Registration Statement
                  under the Act and the qualification of the Indenture
                  hereinafter referred to under the United States Trust
                  Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the due execution and
                  delivery of the Securities on behalf of the Company, the due
                  authentication of the Securities by The Chase Manhattan Bank,
                  the Trustee under the proposed form of the Indenture relating
                  to the Securities (the "Indenture") to be entered into between
                  the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, the sale and
                  delivery of the Securities at the price and in accordance with
                  the terms set forth in the Registration Statement, insofar as
                  the laws of the State of New York are applicable the
                  Securities will thereupon be legal, valid and binding
                  obligations 
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                  of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms
                  (subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
                  moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws
                  relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally from time
                  to time in effect and to general principles of equity as they
                  relate to enforcement of remedies).

            We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption
"Legal Opinions" in the Prospectus constituting a part of such Registration
Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or
the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.


                                        Very truly yours,


   
                                        /s/ Dewey Ballantine LLP
    

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