Erika Baker

**Erika Baker** is a recurring character on Peacock's modern-day reinterpretation, *Bel-Air*. She is portrayed by Diandra Lyle.

Erika is an established lawyer and old affiliate of Phil's who returns to LA after stealing one of his clients.

## Biography

### Reuniting with Phil

In place of her client, Robert Garrison, Erika meets with Phil and reveals that her client won't be joining them. Out of respect, Erika insists that she never would've stolen Garrison if Phil was still at the firm. Erika asks about Viv, who is focusing on her art again. As for Chris, Erika's now ex-husband, they got divorced after discussing kids as a last-ditch effort to save their marriage. And then there was Adam, who didn't want kids, but is now living with his 25-year-old trainer with twins on the way. Two failed marriages, no kids, but a great job, Erika summarizes. As for Garrison, Phil is determined to get him back, to which Erika says that there is one way to do so, and that's if he joins her firm as a senior partner.

Erika convinces Phil to meet with the top leadership of her firm. They'd like to bring him in as an equity partner to control their west coast team, consisting of an army of seasoned attorneys and law school graduates, to make some legitimate progress on those social justice reforms Phil sought to implement as DA. Erika adds that the sky is the limit and that Phil can create whatever future he sees for himself. They just want to be a part of it.

Erika is confronted at her office by Viv. After all these years and the bad blood between them, Viv questions why Erika didn't come to her instead of approaching Phil and accuses her of having a pattern of sneaky behavior, reminding Erika that she slept with Phil in college, but Erika reminds Viv that she and Phil were on a break when they started dating for those two years. But ultimately, things didn't work out, and he ended up with Viv. She just needed to be sure that moving forward, whatever Phil decides, that Erika doesn't have another agenda. Erika gives her word that her interest in Phil is strictly professional.

Erika stops by the Banks' house to apologize to Viv for her past actions while they were in college. As Viv gives Erika a tour of the house and catches her up on recent events in her life, Erika admits that she doesn't have many friends due to an exhaustive work life. Viv is having a bit of a work crisis of her own, revealing that she's being offered her dream job at the expense of someone else. Erika replies that if Janice was doing her job right, then they wouldn't be offering it to Viv. As a black woman facing constant disrespect, Erika learned to stop giving consideration to people who haven't offered it to her. Not long later, Erika meets with Phil, who agrees to join her firm. She notes that the visit with Viv must've paid off, admitting that she stopped by the house in an attempt to smooth things over with Viv, which might then make it easier for Phil to make the right decision. She then welcomes Phil to the team with a hug and whispers in his ear that "this is going to be so good."

Phil invites Erika to his new office space, which will be the home of his new law firm, Philip Banks & Associates, though Erika is concerned, reminding Phil about their deal. He agrees to still take on all the clients her firm offers, but instead of being an in-house lawyer, he'll be a smaller firm that Carson & Lake out sources business to, with Phil instructing Erika to remind their partners that less than 1% of the outside firms they hire are minority owned. Later that week, Erika returns with a bottle to celebrate and says that the partners agree that it's a smart business move. After Geoffrey leaves, she kisses Phil, but he pulls away and tells her that they must ensure their relationship remain professional.

## Appearances

### Season 2

* Excellence Is Everywhere
* Under Pressure
* Pursuit of Happiness
* Just Like Old Times
* Don't Look Back

## References

1. ↑ Season 2, Episode 5: ***Excellence Is Everywhere***
2. ↑ Season 2, Episode 7: ***Under Pressure***
3. ↑ Season 2, Episode 8: ***Pursuit of Happiness***
4. ↑ Season 2, Episode 8: ***Just Like Old Times***
5. ↑ Season 2, Episode 8: ***Don't Look Back***