8-K

      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2008

                       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): March 31, 2008


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


   Delaware                            1-15202                 22-1867895
   --------                            -------                 ----------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission File          (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                       Number)            Identification No.)


         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)


     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

     |_| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)

     |_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)

     |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))






Item 8.01 Other Events.

         Reference is made to the press release of W. R. Berkley Corporation
(the "Company") relating to the announcement of the impending change of the
Company's New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol on its common stock from "BER"
to "WRB" and on its 6.75% trust originated preferred securities from "BERPRA" to
"WRBPRA" effective April 15, 2008. The press release was issued on March 31,
2008. A copy of the press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1
and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (d)  Exhibits

         99.1  Press Release, dated March 31, 2008






                                   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 1, 2008





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit:

99.1      Press Release dated March 31, 2008

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

- ----------------------------------------      NEWS
W. R. Berkley Corporation                     RELEASE
475 Steamboat Road
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
(203) 629-3000
- ---------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         CONTACT: Karen A. Horvath
                                              Vice President - External
                                              Financial Communications
                                              203-629-3000

                       W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION TO CHANGE
                          STOCK TICKER SYMBOL TO "WRB"

     Greenwich, CT, March 31, 2008 -- W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: BER)
today announced that it will change its NYSE stock ticker symbol on its common
stock from "BER" to "WRB". The NYSE stock ticker symbol on its 6.75% trust
originated preferred securities also will change from "BERPRA" to "WRBPRA". The
stock ticker changes are expected to go into effect on April 15, 2008.

     Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company
that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and
operates in five segments of the property casualty insurance business: specialty
insurance, regional property casualty insurance, alternative markets,
reinsurance, and international.

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