TIMELINE: Key dates in Wasserstein's career

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The following list marks key dates in the career of Bruce Wasserstein, chairman and chief executive of Lazard Ltd, who died on Wednesday.

Wasserstein began his career as a lawyer with Cravath, Swaine & Moore and was credited with brokering more than 1,000 transactions worth more than $250 billion.

His career essentially had three stages: first he was a banker at First Boston, then he co-founded his own firm, which he eventually sold to Dresdner Bank, and finally he headed Lazard and took it public.

1977 - Joined First Boston

1981 - Advised on DuPont's $9 billion purchase of Conoco

1984 - Advised on Texaco's $10.7 billion purchase of Getty Oil

1988 - Co-founded Wasserstein Perella & Co.

1989 - Advised Time Inc on its merger with Warner Communications

1989 - Advised to buyout house Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co on its acquisition of RJR Nabisco, at the time the largest leveraged buyout ever, as documented in the book "Barbarians at the Gate."

1997 - Advised on Morgan Stanley's merger with Dean Witter.

2001 - Sold Wasserstein Perella to Dresdner Bank for $1.4 billion.

2002 - Took helm of Lazard

2005 - Became Chairman and CEO of Lazard when the company launched its initial public offering.

2009 - Advised Kraft Foods in its $16 billion bid for Cadbury Plc.

(Compiled by Jessica Hall; editing by Andre Grenon)