Erika is a practicing attorney and senior partner in the firm Bester & Rhoodie Attorneys in Irene. She has been practicing labour law for more than 26 years and has, on occasion, acted as a Judge in the Labour Court.

Her post-graduate qualifications include a Diploma in Labour Law and a Diploma in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Although Erika specialises in labour law, she keeps abreast of developments in other relevant fields of the law and, as such, attained various certificates in aspects such as intellectual property law (through the UNISA Centre of Business Law and the World Intellectual Property Organisation Worldwide Academy in 2001) and most recently a completed a one year course in Advanced Corporate – and Securities Law at the UNISA Centre of Business Law in 2014.

As an attorney specialising in labour law, Erica represents employer parties, unions and employees and is therefore acquainted with the needs and requirements of both employers and employees. She represents clients in litigation in various forums, including the CCMA, Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court. She has chaired numerous disciplinary enquiries and was an accredited CCMA Commissioner, served as a neutral chairperson and facilitator in collective negotiations and acted as arbitrator and mediator in numerous arbitrations and mediations concerning labour disputes under the auspice of various Bargaining Councils and the CCMA, as well as privately.