As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2005

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 14, 2005

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):

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

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

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

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-99.1: PRESS RELEASE

Item 2.02. Results of Operation and Financial Condition

     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 2004 and the year then ended. The press release was issued on February 14, 2005. A copy of the press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

     The information contained herein shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c) Exhibits

     99.1 Press Release, dated February 14, 2005

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 14, 2005

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit:
99.1	Press Release dated February 14, 2005