Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  KURLAND FRED
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/29/2008
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
XOMA LTD /DE/ [XOMA]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O XOMA LTD., 2910 SEVENTH STREET
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
VP Finance
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

BERKELEY, CA 94710
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Incentive Share Option (right to buy)   (1) 12/29/2018 Common Shares 645,160 $ 0.62 D  
Non-Qualified Share Option (right to buy)   (1) 12/29/2018 Common Shares 154,840 $ 0.62 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
KURLAND FRED
C/O XOMA LTD.
2910 SEVENTH STREET
BERKELEY, CA 94710
      VP Finance  

Signatures

By: Christopher J. Margolin For: Fred Kurland 12/30/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Exercisable as to (a) 25% of the option shares upon the first anniversary of the date of grant, and (b) the remaining 75% of the option shares in thirty-six (36) equal and consecutive monthly installments beginning one year and one month after the date of grant.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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