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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000812295-03-000098.txt : 20030214
<SEC-HEADER>0000812295-03-000098.hdr.sgml : 20030214
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030214153748
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000812295-03-000098
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	SC 13G/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030214

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERKLEY W R CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000011544
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				221867895
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	005-13454
		FILM NUMBER:		03567490

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		475 STEAMBOAT ROAD
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036293000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		475 STEAMBOAT ROAD
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JANUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000812295
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G/A

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 FILLMORE STREET
		STREET 2:		2ND FLOOR
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80206-4923
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3033333863

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 FILLMORE STREET
		STREET 2:		2ND FLOOR
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80206-4923

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	JANUS CAPITAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931213

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	JANUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020424

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	JANUS CAPITAL GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030103
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>SC 13G/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>berkley2102003.txt
<TEXT>

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Amendment No.: 1*


Name of Issuer: W. R. Berkley Corporation


Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock


CUSIP Number: 08442310-2


Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement: 12/31/2002

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which
this Schedule if filed.

[X] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a
reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the
subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment
containing information which would alter the disclosures provided
in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall
not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to
the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to
all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).


CUSIP No.: 08442310-2

1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
    Janus Capital Management LLC
    EIN #75-3019302

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
    a.   ___
    b.   _X_

3.  SEC USE ONLY

4.  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
         Colorado

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

   5.    SOLE VOTING POWER
         4,201,360**

   6.    SHARED VOTING POWER
         300**

   7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
         4,201,360**

   8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
         300**

9.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
    4,201,860**

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
    N/A

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
    7.7%**

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
    IA, HC
    ** See Item 4 of this filing


CUSIP No.:  08442310-2

1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
    Janus Fund
    84-0592523

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
    a.   ___
    b.   _X_

3.  SEC USE ONLY

4.  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
         Massachusetts

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

   5.    SOLE VOTING POWER
         2,588,962**

   6.    SHARED VOTING POWER
         -0-

   7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
         2,588,962**

   8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
         -0-

9.  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
    2,588,962**

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
    N/A

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
    5.2%**

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
    IV

**  See Item 4 of this filing



Item 1.
  (a). Name of Issuer: W. R. Berkley Corporation ("W. R. Berkley")

  (b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

       475 Steamboat Road
       Greenwich, CT 06830

Item 2.
  (a).-(c).  Name, Principal Business Address, and Citizenship of
Persons
             Filing:

       (1)   Janus Capital Management LLC ("Janus Capital")
             100 Fillmore Street
             Denver, Colorado  80206-4923
             Citizenship:  Colorado

       (2)   Janus Fund
             100 Fillmore Street
             Denver, Colorado 80206-4923
             Citizenship:  Massachusetts


  (d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock

  (e). CUSIP Number:  08442310-2

Item 3.

This statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1 (b) or 13d-2(b) and
the person filing, Janus Capital, is an investment adviser in
accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(E) as well as a parent
holding company/control person in accordance with Section 240.13d-
1(b)(ii)(G).  See Item 4 for additional information.

Janus Fund is an Investment Company registered under Section 8 of
the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Item 4. Ownership

The information in items 1 and 5 through 11 on the cover page(s)
on Schedule 13G is hereby incorporated by reference.

Janus Capital has an indirect 100% ownership stake in Bay Isle
Financial LLC ("Bay Isle") and an indirect 50.1% ownership stake
in Enhanced Investment Technologies LLC ("INTECH").  Due to the
above ownership structure, holdings for Janus Capital, Bay Isle
and INTECH are aggregated for purposes of this filing. Janus
Capital, Bay Isle and INTECH are registered investment advisers,
each furnishing investment advice to various investment companies
registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940
and to individual and institutional clients (collectively referred
to herein as "Managed Portfolios").

As a result of its role as investment adviser or sub-adviser to
the Managed Portfolios, Janus Capital may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of 4,201,560 shares or 7.7% of the shares
outstanding of W. R. Berkley Common Stock held by such Managed
Portfolios.  However, Janus Capital does not have the right to
receive any dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the
securities held in the Managed Portfolios and disclaims any
ownership associated with such rights.

As a result of its role as investment adviser or sub-adviser to
the Managed Portfolios, INTECH may be deemed to be the beneficial
owner of 300 shares or 0.0% of the shares outstanding of W. R.
Berkley Common Stock held by such Managed Portfolios.  However,
INTECH does not have the right to receive any dividends from, or
the proceeds from the sale of, the securities held in the Managed
Portfolios and disclaims any ownership associated with such
rights.

Janus Fund is an investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and is one of the Managed
Portfolios to which Janus Capital provides investment advice.

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

Not applicable.

Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
Person

The Managed Portfolios, set forth in Item 4 above, have the right
to receive all dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of,
the securities held in their respective accounts.

The interest of one person, Janus Fund, an investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, in W. R.
Berkley Common Stock amounted to 2,588,962 shares or 5.2% of the
total outstanding Common Stock.

These shares were acquired in the ordinary course of business, and
not with the purpose of changing or influencing control of the
Issuer.


Item 7.  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding
Company

INTECH is an indirect subsidiary of Janus Capital (Janus Capital
has a indirect 50.1% ownership stake) and is a registered
investment adviser furnishing investment advice to various
investment companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and to individual and institutional clients.

Item 8.  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

Not applicable.

Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group

Not applicable.

Item 10. Certification

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the
ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose
of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the
control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such
purposes or effect.



SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement
is true, complete and correct.

JANUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC

By  /s/  Heidi J. Walter                       02/14/2003
  Heidi J. Walter,                                Date
    Vice President & Assistant General Counsel

JANUS FUND

By  /s/  Heidi J. Walter                       02/14/2003
  Heidi J. Walter,                                Date
    Vice President & Assistant General Counsel

ENHANCED INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGIES LLC

By  /s/  Heidi J. Walter                02/14/2003
    Heidi J. Walter                               Date
        Under Power of Attorney dated 02/05/03
        On file with Schedule 13G for
        Lamar Advertising Company 02/14/03

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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