Markel Announces Conference Call Date and Time

Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL) announced today it will hold a conference call on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 beginning at 10:30 am (Eastern Standard Time) to discuss quarterly and year-end results and business developments.

Any person interested in listening to the call or a replay of the call, which will be available from approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call until February 13, 2009, should contact Markel’s Investor Relations Department at 804-747-0136. Investors, analysts and the general public may also listen to the call free over the Internet through Markel Corporation's corporate web site, www.markelcorp.com. A replay of the call will also be available on the website until February 13, 2009.

The webcast, the conference call and the content and permitted replays or rebroadcasts thereof are the exclusive copyrighted property of Markel Corporation and may not be copied, taped, rebroadcast, or published in whole or in part without the express written consent of Markel Corporation.

Markel Corporation markets and underwrites specialty insurance products and programs to a variety of niche markets. In each of these markets, the Company seeks to provide quality products and excellent customer service so that it can be a market leader. The financial goals of the Company are to earn consistent underwriting profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value.