Not adding much here to your comment Phil, but I thought I lend a practical metaphor to illustrate what you have said.

This type of reaction is actually not a reaction, it is a pre-meditated plan. It has a name. It is called, "Giving the dog the fist." This refers to the situation of when a dog is intent on biting you, and you are out of other options, and you take action with understanding that no matter what you do you *will* get bit, you plan to give the dog the whole fist, and drive it home. Nothing scares a dog so badly as to have someone forcibly get down it's throat. It cannot breath, it cannot swallow, it cannot do much more damage. It freaks out and just wants to get the tail out of dodge. Taking this action requires courage and effort. Sitting on your hands will get your metaphorical jugular ripped out.

However, it doesn't metaphorically stop there, as you (Phil) have stated. While the dog is thoughtfully contemplating the life-ending fist in the throat, your other hand and other parts are working too, tearing into essentials, like eyes, knees landing ribs on the ground, etc. In your example, you gave the first blow (or fist) with, "bombard them with great quantities of materials". The second "hand" is just as important, if not more critical, because there has to be pain or the thing may come back at you again. Phil only grazed the surface of this with, "and pertinent questions which required answers and clarification". There must be pain, pain that registers in key ways, not just a slaps, nor an attempt to go after everything... slaps are not registered, and going after everything triggers fight instead of flight. Herein is where you said, "I realize that this requires a few hours poring over law books, but the results are very satisfying."

It is also highly effective on high level brass within a company that don't have a clue but keep trying to pin a bad deal on you, or your team. Go with it, TO THE FULLEST MEASURE. Opposition back-pedaling begins to happen quickly... unless a tremendous amount of money is at stake, i.e. a lion instead of a dog, in that case, you'd better be ready to dance, or move on.

If you cannot tell whether the issue is a lion or a dog, then go with the presumption that it is a dog... lions are extremely rare by comparison, and scarce few of those are after you personally, and it would be extremely hard for anyone to accuse you of trying to withhold or taint the information.