W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) is a publicly traded insurance holding company that underwrites and sells commercial property and casualty insurance, specialty insurance products, and reinsurance. Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, the company operates a portfolio of underwriting businesses that focus on niche and specialty commercial risks, offering coverage tailored to industries such as transportation, construction, professional services and other commercial lines.
The company’s product mix includes primary and excess casualty, property, professional liability, environmental and other specialty lines, together with treaty and facultative reinsurance solutions. Berkley distributes its products through independent agents and brokers and supports underwriting with in-house claims handling, risk management and loss-control services. The firm emphasizes underwriting discipline and segmentation, seeking to serve specialty markets where technical expertise and service add value.
W. R. Berkley was founded in 1967 by William R. Berkley, who played a prominent role in the company’s development as it expanded through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions. Today the business operates across the United States and through international subsidiaries and branches, serving commercial clients and broker partners in multiple regions. The company is managed by an executive leadership team and overseen by a board of directors, with the founder historically influential in its long-term strategy and governance.